PerfHIP Fit
Custom Hip Implant for Bone Deformity
The most rewarding aspect of this project was to hear that I was a capable leader from my teammates. As I had more experience with coding and 3D-modelling, I guided my group members with their work while reinforcing my own knowledge in these subjects.
Being able to say my group and I successfully designed a hip implant was a major accomplishment.
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We were proposed with fabricating a custom hip implant for a hypothetical patient with a unique bone deformity. We had to diagnose the patient ourselves by examining a set of x-rays, patient history, researching, and collaborating with a real-life radiologist.
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A hip implant had to then be designed around the bone deformity. We had to plan the architecture of the implant while choosing effective materials using our knowledge of bone mechanics and materials engineering. A Python program was used to calculate appropriate dimensions for the implant based on patient anatomy and materials selected.
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A prototype for the implant was modelled in Inventor and 3D-printed with plastic. Our proposal for integrating the materials we chose with our prototype was presented in a poster presentation.
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The client was diagnosed with Perthes disease, had to design an implant that would correct his irregular acetabulum (hip socket) while extending his leg an extra inch as it was also foreshortened
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Decided the acetabular cup, ball bearing, and femoral stem would be made out of varying types of titanium (see poster below). The liner would be composed of UHMWP
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Supervised the coding of a Python program to calculate the minimum diameter of the femoral stem based on the ultimate tensile strength of the titanium used. This was crucial as the patient had a very thin femur due to underuse of the leg
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The program also determined how long the implant would last by calculating fatigue life, appropriate dimensions were then selected
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A 3D model of the patient's acetabulum was provided. Dimensions for the acetabular cup were learned through measuring the model in Inventor. The cup was made thicker in specific regions to accommodate for leg foreshortening
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The femoral stem was designed to be ribbed to promote osseointegration, round to avoid cracks developing at corners, and it mimicked the shape of a typical femoral head for a natural force distribution
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