Ploeg, Heidi-Lynn

Potter, J.J. Sauer, J.L., Weisshaar, C., Ploeg, H., Thelen, D.G., Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Combined analysis of pelvic motion and saddle pressure distribution during cycling, Chicago, IL, USA, 2006.
Garc�a S, Ploeg H, Smith E, Zetos loading system: an evaluation and recalibration study, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 28th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, 2006.
Freytag M., Ploeg H., Schmidt J., Shapiro V., Tsukanov I., Meshfree analysis from biomedical images: construction of approximate distance fields, 7th World Congress on Computational Mechanics, Los Angeles, California, 2006.
Schmidt J., Henderson A., Ploeg H., Deluzio K., Dunbar M., Primary fixation in a revision total knee arthroplasty may not imply long term fixation: the effect of stem length, 16th Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research Society, Bologna, Italy, 2006.
Schmidt J., Henderson A., Ploeg H., Deluzio K., Dunbar M., Development of finite element models to critically evaluate stem selection for a revision total knee arthroplasty, Fifth World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, 2006.
Kersh M., Ploeg H., Contact area in dome-shaped and conforming patellar implants, Fifth World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, 2006.
Biegler K., Schmidt J., Ploeg H., Deluzio K., Dunbar M., A parametric analysis study on the number of materials required for a convergence of finite element results for a tibial bone model, 14th Annual Symposium on Computational Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Chicago IL, USA, 2006.
Henderson A., Schmidt J., Ploeg H., Deluzio K., Dunbar M., Finite element & in-vitro testing of tibial stem length in revision total knee arthroplasty, 14th Annual Symposium on Computational Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Chicago IL, USA, 2006.
Murphy K.C., Biegler K., Ploeg H., The design and finite element analysis of biomimetic bone scaffolds, 14th Annual Symposium on Computational Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Chicago IL, USA, 2006.
Schmidt J., Henderson A., Ploeg H., Deluzio K., Dunbar M., Finite element analysis of stem dimensions in a revision total knee arthroplasty using visible human computed tomography data, 14th Annual Symposium on Computational Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Chicago IL, USA, 2006.

Summary

Prof. Ploeg's research goal is to understand the human musculo-skeletal system better, in order to aid the development of biomechanical and safe solutions for the care and treatment of diseased or injured systems. She plans to continue her research in this area, focusing on validated finite element modelling of the human musculo-skeletal system, and aiming towards the integration of computer aided surgery and structural analysis. Her research includes (1) finite element modelling of human joints, and (2) fatigue test development and prediction for design approval of orthopaedic implants.

(1) Finite Element Modelling of Bones and Joints

Finite element (FE) models can be used to develop the understanding of human joint biomechanics and to aid the development of biomechanical solutions for the care and treatment of diseased or injured joints. There are several advantages to using FE models of human joints over cadaver specimens, including repeatability, reproducibility, adaptability, accessibility and transferability. FE models do not replace but compliment cadaver specimens. Cadaver specimens are required to generate and validate accurate computer models; and, FE models are required to design and analyse efficient experiments on cadaver specimens. The development of an accurate human joint model requires anthropometric and material data of the bone and surrounding tissues, definition of the boundary conditions, and validation. Using bone-remodelling algorithms, an accurate FE model may also be used to predict bone adaptation due to changes in its loading environment, for example due to a surgical procedure or implant.

(2) Component Fatigue Testing for Orthopaedic Implant Design Approval

Component fatigue testing is required to help ensure that orthopaedic implants are safe from fatigue failure during clinical use. Few component fatigue tests are standardised and the development of new implants often requires the development of new fatigue tests. Due to the sample sizes required to determine a component�s fatigue strength, fatigue testing is expensive and time consuming. It is therefore important to plan fatigue test series carefully. Fatigue test prediction aids the planning of an efficient fatigue test series and can be applied early in the design process to reduce the risk of discovering a weak design during component fatigue testing, the final step before design approval.

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Date last modified: 17-Nov-2007
Content by: ploeg@engr.wisc.edu
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