Our Research

The main focus of our research activities is on Application of Engineering Principles in the Treatment of Tissue Damage. Our research involves 1) the development of novel fracture risk assessment techniques (2 Ph.D. Thesis), 2) determining the ideal properties of an augmentation material for treatment of such fractures (2 Ph.D. Thesis), and 3) the generation of a composite material, which is optimized for tissue ingrowth, that inherents the above determined properties and can be used as augmentation material for preventive treatment (2 Ph.D. Thesis). Kinematic models of joints using virtualized reality (2 Ph.D. Thesis) supplements the post-operative predictability of the treatment outcome.

Established clinical collaborations with the following groups facilitate the clinical implementation of our research findings: MD Anderson Cancer Center / Department of Neurosurgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center / Department of Anesthesiology, the University of Texas / Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine / DeBakey Department of Surgery, Methodist Hospital and Methodist Hospital Research Instittue, St. Luke��s Episcopal Hospital / Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education and Ohio State University / Department of Neurosurgery.

Bio-Robotics in Spinal Treatment

Bio-robotics allows the three-dimensional testing of spinal segments and single vertebral body in addition to applying physiological loading. Such complex loading conditions can not be replicated with traditional material testing systems.

Intra-Operative Biomechanical Evaluation of Fracture Fixation

We developed a technique that allows intro-operative generation of three-dimensional numerical representation of the patients anatomy. Such models are then utilized for biomechanical evaluation to guide the physician.

Adjacent Fracture Risk after Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty

Adjacent fractures after vertebroplasty are very common. In our laboratory we investigate the reason behind such fractures and develop mediation strategies to prevent them from occuring.

Mechanical Driving Force in Bone Adaptation to Mechanical Loading

In order to develop functional tissue scaffolds, the underlying mechanism that drives tissue growths due to mechanical loading has to be understood. This research investigates the mechanical loading environment on bone tissue.

Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering

Computer-aided tissue engineering is a growing field. It incorporates structural information of the tissue to be replaced, its biomimetic information and details on possible fabrication techniques. Many believe that this field will revolutionize the way scaffolds are designed and utilized.

Preventive Stabilization of Osteoporotic Vertebrae

Minimally invasive procedures such as vertebroplasty lose their efficacy when applied in fractured vertebrae. When applied in weakened, but not yet fractured vertebral bodies, common side effects such as adjacent bone fractures, are reduced. Our research focuses on ideal material properties and placement of augmentation material for this preventative procedure.

Kinematic Analysis of the Temporomandibular Joint

The cause of anterior disc displacement is not understood. Our approach is to generate a better understanding how the normal joint kinematics pattern is generated, how the pathological motion differes and what tissue is responsible for causing that difference.

Functional Tissue Engineering

Function tissue engineering takes computer-aided tissue engineering one step further. Idealized structures are fabricated and then prepared for immediate transplantation. While these scaffolds don't have to be seeded with cells, their biomechanical and biochemical functionality will need to be up to par on the day if implantation and during the degradation process of the synthetic material.

Ongoing Research:

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