Mechanical Strength Study of a Cranial Implant Using Computational Tools

Santos, Pedro Odimar dos; Carmo, Gustavo P.; Sousa, Ricardo J. Alves de; Fernandes, Fábio A. O.; Ptak, Mariusz

doi:10.3390/app12020878

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The analysis results of our computational model represent favorable nominal values which are sufficient for optimality analysis and within the scope in comparison to other cranial studies [ 64 ]. In addition, the values obtained from the FEA results in this work match those of other research studies using similar kinds of PEEK cranial implant [ 77 ]. The computational model setup used in this study illustrates an effective and relatively simple way to evaluate cranial reconstruction while avoiding complex design setup and computational expenses.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Adaptive Mechanism for Designing a Personalized Cranial Implant and Its 3D Printing Using PEEK

et al. 2022

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The rehabilitation of the skull’s bones is a difficult process that poses a challenge to the surgical team. Due to the range of design methods and the availability of materials, the main concerns are the implant design and material selection. Mirror-image reconstruction is one of the widely used implant reconstruction techniques, but it is not a feasible option in asymmetrical regions. The ideal design approach and material should result in an implant outcome that is compact, easy to fit, resilient, and provides the perfect aesthetic and functional outcomes irrespective of the location. The design technique for the making of the personalized implant must be easy to use and independent of the defect’s position on the skull. As a result, this article proposes a hybrid system that incorporates computer tomography acquisition, an adaptive design (or modeling) scheme, computational analysis, and accuracy assessment. The newly developed hybrid approach aims to obtain ideal cranial implants that are unique to each patient and defect. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is chosen to fabricate the implant because it is a viable alternative to titanium implants for personalized implants, and because it is simpler to use, lighter, and sturdy enough to shield the brain. The aesthetic result or the fitting accuracy is adequate, with a maximum deviation of 0.59 mm in the outside direction. The results of the biomechanical analysis demonstrate that the maximum Von Mises stress (8.15 MPa), Von Mises strain (0.002), and deformation (0.18 mm) are all extremely low, and the factor of safety is reasonably high, highlighting the implant’s load resistance potential and safety under high loading. Moreover, the time it takes to develop an implant model for any cranial defect using the proposed modeling scheme is very fast, at around one hour. This study illustrates that the utilized 3D reconstruction method and PEEK material would minimize time-consuming alterations while also improving the implant’s fit, stability, and strength.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Adaptive Mechanism for Designing a Personalized Cranial Implant and Its 3D Printing Using PEEK

et al. 2022

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“…Designs 2024, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 13 system of miniplates that hold the implant-skull interface and how these react to different types of loads [30,31]. In general, there has been a surge in research within the literature employing FE approaches to evaluate cranial implants [32][33][34][35], driven by a heightened interest in the subject.…”

Section: Model Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another set of experiments, researchers evaluated the stress-strain behavior of two types of cranial implants, titanium (Ti) and PEEK, under axial loading [29]. Special interest has been given to the geometric shape of the system of miniplates that hold the implant-skull interface and how these react to different types of loads [30,31]. In general, there has been a surge in research within the literature employing FE approaches to evaluate cranial implants [32][33][34][35], driven by a heightened interest in the subject.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finite Element Analysis of Patient-Specific Cranial Implants under Different Design Parameters for Material Selection

Mejía Rodríguez,

González-Estrada,

Villegas-Bermúdez

2024

Designs

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This work presents the study of the thickness vs. stiffness relationship for different materials (PMMA and PEEK) in patient-specific cranial implants, as a criterion for the selection of biomaterials from a mechanical perspective. The geometry of the implant is constructed from the reconstruction of the cranial lesion using image segmentation obtained from computed axial tomography. Different design parameters such as thickness and perforations are considered to obtain displacement distributions under critical loading conditions using finite element analysis. The models consider quasi-static loads with linear elastic materials. The null hypothesis underlying this research asserts that both biomaterials exhibit the minimum mechanical characteristics necessary to withstand direct impact trauma at the implant center, effectively averting critical deformations higher than 2 mm. In this way, the use of PMMA cranioplasties is justified in most cases where a PEEK implant cannot be accessed.

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“…Craniotomy is a surgical treatment that involves removing a portion of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain caused by swelling or bleeding. 2 These procedures are primarily intended to restore the protective function of the skull as well as cranial aesthetics. 3 Tumour removal or decompressive craniotomies are the most common causes of cranioplasty in all age groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing cranial fixture shapes and topologies for optimizing PEEK implant thickness in cranioplasty

Jindal

Bharadwaja

Rattra

et al. 2023

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L:

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Cranial defects are often caused by trauma, diseases or malignancy. To repair such defects, skull reconstruction or cranial implants are required for protecting intracranial structures and normalizing cerebral hemodynamics. To relieve Intracranial Pressure (ICP) surgeons restore cranial defects using the preserved bone of a patient. In case of non-availability of natural bone cranial implants are fabricated using biocompatible materials including Titanium Alloys (Ti-6Al-4V) and polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK). Patient-specific implants (PSI) manufactured using 3D printing, 3D imaging technologies and 3D modeling software, are preferred over conventional manufacturing methods. During cranial fixation bone fragments, grafts and bone flaps are fixed to the cranium to offer stable closure in surgery. Effective attachment of an implant to a defective skull is influenced by the joints and fixture arrangements at the interface. These fixtures can have various designs, materials and joining procedures. PEEK behaves similarly to bone during deformation, which means it is receptive to titanium fixations and supports soft tissue adhesion due to its inert nature. This study considers PEEK as an implant material for reconstructing a bone-defected skull with Ti-6Al-4V fixtures attached at the skull-implant interface. This work compares Ti-6Al-4V fixture shapes (Linear, Square and Burrhole) with different orientation angles and topologies (‘+’ and ‘X’) attached to PEEK cranial implants of variable thicknesses (1–7 mm). Using Finite Element Method (FEM)/Finite Element Analysis (FEA), von Mises stress analysis was analyzed to identify the implant thicknesses that would bear an external load of 1780 N and ICP of 15 mmHg without failure. With a yielding limit of 100 MPa for PEEK, all proposed design arrangements for the fixture plates in the skull-implant assembly were well within these limits exhibiting a maximum von Mises stress of 51.985 MPa for the least implant thickness of 1 mm and weight 12.90 g. Considering all the designs, a Linear Fixture shape with 45° angular orientations placed in ‘X’ topology exhibited least stress of 18.477 MPa and was therefore proposed as the most optimized design for the skull-implant fixture assembly. Selection of an optimized design arrangement is also dependent upon other clinical factors, such as number of screws used, the Additive Manufacturing (AM) technique for fabricating/cutting of precise slots within the implant. The skull and flexibility of the fixture plates are also considered in relation to the required operating theatre time and skills of the surgical team.

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Mechanical Strength Study of a Cranial Implant Using Computational Tools

Cited by 7 publications

References 27 publications

Adaptive Mechanism for Designing a Personalized Cranial Implant and Its 3D Printing Using PEEK

Adaptive Mechanism for Designing a Personalized Cranial Implant and Its 3D Printing Using PEEK

Finite Element Analysis of Patient-Specific Cranial Implants under Different Design Parameters for Material Selection

Designing cranial fixture shapes and topologies for optimizing PEEK implant thickness in cranioplasty

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