The Orthopaedic BioMaterials Laboratory focuses on the investigation of the mechanical properties of biomaterials for hard-tissue applications including biological musculoskeletal tissues and orthopaedic, dental, and veterinary devices. Research projects have included studies of shape-memory alloys for fracture fixation, a quantification of the micromotion between components of total hip arthroplasties, studies of the fatigue behavior of external fixators and dental prostheses, and testing a novel technique for securing mechanical devices to skeletal muscle which is being used for the development of a synthetic tendon. Clinically-driven projects have focused on fracture fixation techniques, intra-articular knee stresses, the mechanics of osteochondral plugs, ACL graft fixation, and stabilization systems for spinal fusion.
