<title>Design of an arthroscopic instrument for dynamic testing of articular cartilage properties</title>

Abstract

An instrument to estimate the dynamic properties of articular cartilage in vivo is proposed. Through the use of a mechanical indenter adapted from in vitro testing methods and an ultrasound data acquisition system, a time constant for articular cartilage can be obtained. Dynamic lumped parameter models of articular cartilage and the instrument were developed using bond graph techniques for evaluating the feasibility of microfabricating the tool. Simulation results showed that a characteristic time constant for cartilage reswelling could be measured using the probe. Measurement protocols were designed to isolate fluid resistance and cartilage stiffness. Scaling the size of the instrument down lowered the amplitude of the forces required to indent the cartilage and reduced the length of the time the surgeon would need to hold the instrument in a single position in order to perform a test.

A review of the diverse applications of bond graphs in biology and physiology

“…BGs have also aided biomedical engineers in testing the application and efficiency of various medical devices. BG models have been used to study the tremoring effects of the human hands while using medical tools like articular cartilage probe tools [93].…”