Purdue News
Purdue News
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February 12, 1993 Computer program brings custom-fit to hip, knee replacementsWEST LAFAYETTE, IND.–A computer program developed at Purdue University may soon allow physicians to design custom-made implants such as artificial hip or knee joints. The tailor-made implants could prove more durable and allow a wider range of motion for patients, says Chandrajit (chahn-DRAHjit) Bajaj (bah-JAHJ), associate professor of computer sciences who teamed up with a Lafayette orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Robert Hagen, to develop software for the program. Bajaj will report on the new computer program at 8:45 a.m. Monday (2/15) during a symposium on applied computing to be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. "Custom-fit has many meanings, and could include information on patients' age and life-style," Bajaj says. "What we want to do is take the technology from where it is today -- which is essentially choosing a pre-fabricated implant, much like buying a shoe–and allow physicians to tailor-make implants based on a patient's individual needs." Bajaj developed computer software to model the geometry and design replacements for a patient's joints using data obtained from Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans. The computer program is designed to work with curved surfaces like those found in the body, making it easy to obtain precise measurements. Though the idea of making customized implants is not new, finding ways to create accurate computer reconstructions has proven to be quite difficult, says Bajaj, who specializes in modeling various shapes. "The geometry of the human body is very complicated, and can be especially tricky in areas such as the hip or knee joint," he says. "Furthermore, bone is made up of living tissue and can change in shape over time, causing problems such as bone spurs or bone retraction from the implant." The custom-designed implants may help reduce the risk of such problems by allowing doctors to computer-simulate use of the implant over time. "Some of these problems are caused by incorrect load transfer or extended wear on a specific region of the bone," Bajaj explains. "With the computer model, doctors and technicians can simulate tasks such as walking, lifting, et cetera, to see if there are any immediate problems with wear on a region." The research group at Purdue is one of several groups nationwide working to develop a program to make custom-designed implants widely available. Tailor-made implants currently are being developed at a handful of research institutions, including Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University. Bajaj notes that the program developed at Purdue offers the most sophisticated program to date, providing more accurate computer modeling of curved surfaces and allowing a wider range of sculpting. The Purdue program is also the first to provide a multi-user and multi-workstation environment, allowing physicians and bone specialists to work simultaneously with technicians in customizing the implant. Bajaj and Hagen are contacting implant manufacturers in Warsaw, Ind., and New Jersey to find ways to implement the new technology. Contact Purdue News Service (765) 494-2096 or purduenews@purdue.edu
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