[A new method for the determination of the weight-dependent course of pressure and contact in the articular surface].

A new method for measurements of pressure distributions and contact areas in joints. An innovative method is presented, allowing, for the first time, the exact determination of load-dependent pressure distributions and contact areas of joint surfaces in anatomical specimens. A thin flexible foil is inserted into the joint and adjust itself to curvatures. Upon loading, a monochromatic coloration occurs such that the optical density increases linearly with pressure. Using an electronic picture processor an analog representation of isobaric areas is obtained and evaluated, thereby integrating the areas of equal optical density. This procedure is considered to be superior to densitometric digital signal processing. For illustration, measurements of tibiofemoral-, patellafemoral- and ankle joints are shown, demonstrating the advantages and limitations of the new method.