Towards an improved development process for new hip prostheses

The development of prosthetic components demands a good understanding of mechanics and stress analysis as well as the effect on materials of extreme operating environments. Additionally, to be effective those involved in the development process need a cross-disciplinary appreciation of the field of biomedical engineering. For hip prostheses, the mechanical components have to possess high strength and stiffness properties to ensure stresses are kept within acceptable limits and geometrical stability is maintained to ensure correct functioning. The loads also vary considerably through normal human activities, inducing fatigue and wear in the components. The design application is complex and utilising the most appropriate materials and materials combinations is challenging. This paper discusses the development process for a new hip prosthesis and suggests improvements in the process for more effective hip prosthesis designs in the future.