Evaluation of ceramics as a material for Total Disc Replacements

Green, Naomi Charlotte (2017). Evaluation of ceramics as a material for Total Disc Replacements. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Total Disc Replacement aims to maintain the natural movement of the spine by replacing the intervertebral disc with an articulating or flexible implant. One reason Total Disc Replacements fail is aseptic loosening of the implant, caused by osteolysis, an inflammatory response to the wear debris produced by the articulating surfaces of the implant. Therefore, it is important to understand the wear performance of different designs and materials. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the use of ceramics in Total Disc Replacements and evaluate their tribological performance.

This was achieved through the manufacture of alumina cervical implants, which were then used for in vitro wear and friction tests. Despite high wear rates, caused by chipping and a high surface roughness on the articulating surfaces, there were some issues with measuring the wear using the gravimetric method. Therefore, the rest of the thesis was focused on developing and validating new methods for measuring volumetric wear using non-contacting optical microscopy. The results showed that the new optical method had several advantages over the traditional gravimetric method, including better measurement precision and the ability to visualise the location of the wear damage.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):