Musculoskeletal Robotics and Mechanical Testing CoreThe primary mission of the Musculoskeletal Robotics and Mechanical Testing Core is to providefacilities and services for mechanical testing of musculoskeletal tissues, joints, and joint complexes. Thiswill be accomplished through: (1) an organizational structure for access to shared equipment and resources;(2) the availability of expert advice for development and use of test protocols and instrumentationtechniques; and (3) assistance with data collection, analysis, and archiving.Three existing test facilities will be part of the Core: two uniaxial material testing systems, and onebiaxial testing system. These are primarily used for quantification of material properties in soft tissue andbone. A new 6-axis robotic testing system is being added to complement these facilities. The roboticsystem will serve as a general-purpose testing system which can apply controlled three-dimensional motionsand forces to specimens. Such tests are needed in structures where tissue deformation and joint motionboth play important roles, such as in joints, spine segments, and feet.There are currently six independently funded investigators with projects that will make use of the Corefacilities. Two of these study mechanisms for overuse injury, i.e., the effect of repetitive loading on thebiology and mechanics of connective tissue. Two investigators are interested in acute injury mechanisms:heel fractures and tears of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. The other two studies are ontherapeutic footwear and spinal implants, and both of these rely on advanced mechanical testing to findoptimal design parameters. All six researchers have strong backgrounds in biomechanics. Access totesting facilities and technical support is also becoming increasingly important for non-specialists. OurResearch Base includes strong programs in tissue engineering and in joint surgery, both of which will benefitgreatly from access to modern biomechanical testing techniques.
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