Finite Element Analysis and Computer Aided Tissue Engineering Design of a Replacement Lumbar Intervertebral Disc

The treatment of disc degeneration disease of the spinehas been a subject of particular interest in the medical community due to its effects on the lifestyle of afflicted patients. Current treatment modalities range from non-invasive treatment with physical therapy, to the invasive surgical repair of the degenerated disc(s). However, despite the existence of the setreatment methods, each has its own set of drawbacks and limitations, most notably the use of surgical intervention. Examples of such limitations have included the mechanical failure of spinal implants, the destruction of the vertebral bonestructure due to implant subsistence, graft site morbidity due tobone harvesting, and the promotion of disc degeneration at the surrounding spinal units. To overcome these limitations, a newimplant design was conceived combining the concepts of arthrodesis, arthroplasty, and fusion via bone graft, allowing forthe biological fusion of adjacent vertebra, in conjunction with theuse of tissue engineering principals. In addition, this newapproach to implant development, utilizing the practices ofcomputer aided tissue engineering, permits the patient specific design of the implant, enhancing the ability to match implant design and architecture with patient anatomy. Resulting fromthese design criteria, the proposed novel design eliminates thedrawbacks associated with the current vertebral implant designs, potentially extending both the lifespan and effectiveness of theimplant, thereby improving the long term outcomes for thetreatment of spinal disc degeneration.