Title page for E-project-043009-115732

Project Type MQP

Submission date 2009-04-30

Authors
Jonathan Y Ahn, BE
Alexander G Christakis, BE
John C Dieselman, johnd@WPI.EDU, BE
Andrew C Sandefer, BE

URN E-project-043009-115732

Sponsor University of Massachusetts Medical School

Title Design of an Optimized Rigid Fixation System for the Osteoporotic Sternum

Advisor
Billiar, Kristen, BE

Availability unrestricted

Abstract
In 2006 nearly 700,000 open heart surgeries were performed, each of which required a surgical bisection of the sternum. After surgery, the sternum must be fixated back together a process that usually uses cerclage wires. In a small subset of patients, these wires are ineffective at providing fixation which leads to malunion and infection of the sternum. Rigid fixation is proposed to be a better solution; however screw-plate systems are not currently optimized for the sternum. Different screw types and depths were assessed by cyclic loading (0 to 50N) in osteoporotic human sternum for 15,000 cycles. Using these results, an optimal rigid fixation system was proposed. A composite screw with novel locking head was designed that was shown to minimize displacement based on a proof of concept.

Files
KLB0803SternalScrewDesign2009.pdf

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Project Type	MQP
Submission date	2009-04-30
Authors	Jonathan Y Ahn, BE Alexander G Christakis, BE John C Dieselman, johnd@WPI.EDU, BE Andrew C Sandefer, BE
URN	E-project-043009-115732
Sponsor	University of Massachusetts Medical School
Title	Design of an Optimized Rigid Fixation System for the Osteoporotic Sternum
Advisor	Billiar, Kristen, BE
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract In 2006 nearly 700,000 open heart surgeries were performed, each of which required a surgical bisection of the sternum. After surgery, the sternum must be fixated back together a process that usually uses cerclage wires. In a small subset of patients, these wires are ineffective at providing fixation which leads to malunion and infection of the sternum. Rigid fixation is proposed to be a better solution; however screw-plate systems are not currently optimized for the sternum. Different screw types and depths were assessed by cyclic loading (0 to 50N) in osteoporotic human sternum for 15,000 cycles. Using these results, an optimal rigid fixation system was proposed. A composite screw with novel locking head was designed that was shown to minimize displacement based on a proof of concept.
Files	KLB0803SternalScrewDesign2009.pdf