AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, 7270 Davos, Switzerland.
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Metal Science 'Acad. A. Balevski', Shipchenski prohod 67, 1574 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Sensors (Basel). 2020 Dec 22;21(1):17. doi: 10.3390/s21010017.
This manuscript introduces a programable active bone fixator system that enables systematic investigation of bone healing processes in a sheep animal model. In contrast to previous systems, this solution combines the ability to precisely control the mechanical conditions acting within a fracture with continuous monitoring of the healing progression and autonomous operation of the system throughout the experiment. The active fixator system was implemented on a double osteotomy model that shields the experimental fracture from the influence of the animal's functional loading. A force sensor was integrated into the fixator to continuously measure stiffness of the repair tissue as an indicator for healing progression. A dedicated control unit was developed that allows programing of different loading protocols which are later executed autonomously by the active fixator. To verify the feasibility of the system, it was implanted in two sheep with different loading protocols, mimicking immediate and delayed weight-bearing, respectively. The implanted devices operated according to the programmed protocols and delivered seamless data over the whole course of the experiment. The in vivo trial confirmed the feasibility of the system. Hence, it can be applied in further preclinical studies to better understand the influence of mechanical conditions on fracture healing.
这篇手稿介绍了一种可编程的主动骨固定器系统，该系统能够在绵羊动物模型中系统地研究骨愈合过程。与以前的系统相比，该解决方案将精确控制骨折内作用的机械条件的能力与对愈合过程的连续监测以及整个实验过程中系统的自主运行相结合。主动固定器系统应用于双切开模型，该模型使实验性骨折免受动物功能加载的影响。在固定器中集成了力传感器，以连续测量修复组织的刚度作为愈合进展的指标。开发了专用的控制单元，允许对不同的加载协议进行编程，然后由主动固定器自动执行。为了验证系统的可行性，它被植入了两只绵羊中，分别采用了即刻和延迟负重的不同加载方案。植入的设备按照编程的方案运行，并在整个实验过程中提供无缝数据。体内试验证实了该系统的可行性。因此，它可以应用于进一步的临床前研究，以更好地了解机械条件对骨折愈合的影响。
