ADJUSTABLE FIXTURE FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT SURGERY
Open Access
Author:
Wang, Kevin
Area of Honors:
Mechanical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Daniel Humberto Cortes Correales, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Sean N Brennan, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
acl reconstruction surgery tensioning device design
Abstract:
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery has been able to reliably reproduce stability in the knee similar to the pre-injured knee. However, in the long-term, the knee cartilage begins to degrade due to shifting in contact pressures, which leads to the onset of osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to describe the design for a device that can allow surgeons the capability to adjust the tension of an ACL graft during surgery. It includes the identification and utilization of key factors towards concept generations and design considerations. These designs are compared against each other and qualities will be taken and incorporated into the final design. The final design is connected to a strain gage and tested to see the accuracy and adjustability. Implementation of the device is also tested with an ACL graft in a knee model to understand its feasibility. This device may be useful in standardizing ACL surgeries, reduce reconstruction surgery time and rates, and better understanding the onset of osteoarthritis.
