Development of artificial articular cartilage

作者：Makoto Oka, K. USHIO, P. S. Anil Kumar, Koji IKEUCHI, Suong‐Hyu Hyon, Takashi Nakamura, Hayato Fujita · 发表于：Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part H Journal of Engineering in Medicine · 年份：2000 · DOI：10.1243/0954411001535246 · 被引用次数：176 · 研究领域：Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms、Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes、Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques

Attempts have been made to develop an artificial articular cartilage on the basis of a new viewpoint of joint biomechanics in which the lubrication and load-bearing mechanisms of natural and artificial joints are compared. Polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H), 'a rubber-like gel', was investigated as an artificial articular cartilage and the mechanical properties of this gel were improved through a new synthetic process. In this article the biocompatibility and various mechanical properties of the new improved PVA-H is reported from the perspective of its usefulness as an artificial articular cartilage. As regards lubrication, the changes in thickness and fluid pressure of the gap formed between a glass plate and the specimen under loading were measured and it was found that PVA-H had a thicker fluid film under higher pressures than polyethylene (PE) did. The momentary stress transmitted through the specimen revealed that PVA-H had a lower peak stress and a longer duration of sustained stress than PE, suggesting a better damping effect. The wear factor of PVA-H was approximately five times that of PE. Histological studies of the articular cartilage and synovial membranes around PVA-H implanted for 8-52 weeks showed neither inflammation nor degenerative changes. The artificial articular cartilage made from PVA-H could be attached to the underlying bone using a composite osteochondral device made from titanium fibre mesh. In the second phase of this work, the damage to the tibial...