Finite Element Model of the Human Knee Joint to Study Tibio-Femoral Contact Mechanics

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy Haut Donahue ◽  
Maury L. Hull ◽  
Mark M. Rashid ◽  
Christopher R. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Human Knee ◽  
Human Knee Joint ◽  
Solid Models ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
A New Technique

Abstract A finite element model of the tibio-femoral joint in the human knee was created using a new technique for developing accurate solid models of soft tissues (i.e. cartilage and menisci). The model was used to demonstrate that constraining rotational degrees of freedom other than flexion/extension when the joint is loaded in compression markedly affects the load distribution between the medial and lateral sides of the joint. The model also was used to validate the assumption that the bones can be treated as rigid.

Verification of Predicted Knee Replacement Kinematics During Simulated Gait in the Kansas Knee Simulator

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Halloran ◽  
Chadd W. Clary ◽  
Lorin P. Maletsky ◽  
Mark Taylor ◽  
Anthony J. Petrella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Knee Replacement ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Explicit Finite Element ◽  
Knee Simulator ◽  
Flexion Extension

Evaluating total knee replacement kinematics and contact pressure distributions is an important element of preclinical assessment of implant designs. Although physical testing is essential in the evaluation process, validated computational models can augment these experiments and efficiently evaluate perturbations of the design or surgical variables. The objective of the present study was to perform an initial kinematic verification of a dynamic finite element model of the Kansas knee simulator by comparing predicted tibio- and patellofemoral kinematics with experimental measurements during force-controlled gait simulation. A current semiconstrained, cruciate-retaining, fixed-bearing implant mounted in aluminum fixtures was utilized. An explicit finite element model of the simulator was developed from measured physical properties of the machine, and loading conditions were created from the measured experimental feedback data. The explicit finite element model allows both rigid body and fully deformable solutions to be chosen based on the application of interest. Six degrees-of-freedom kinematics were compared for both tibio- and patellofemoral joints during gait loading, with an average root mean square (rms) translational error of 1.1 mm and rotational rms error of 1.3 deg. Model sensitivity to interface friction and damping present in the experimental joints was also evaluated and served as a secondary goal of this paper. Modifying the metal-polyethylene coefficient of friction from 0.1 to 0.01 varied the patellar flexion-extension and tibiofemoral anterior-posterior predictions by 7 deg and 2 mm, respectively, while other kinematic outputs were largely insensitive.

A 3D Biphasic Finite Element Model of the Human Knee Joint for the Study of Tibiofemoral Contact and Fluid Pressurization

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongqiang Guo ◽  
Suzanne A. Maher ◽  
Robert L. Spilker
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Contact Problem ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Human Knee Joint ◽  
Biphasic Finite Element

Biphasic theory which considers soft tissue, such as articular cartilage and meniscus, as a combination of a solid and a fluid phase has been widely used to model their biomechanical behavior [1]. Though fluid flow plays an important role in the load-carrying ability of soft tissues, most finite element models of the knee joint consider cartilage and the meniscus as solid. This simplification is due to the fact that biphasic contact is complicated to model. Beside the continuity conditions for displacement and traction that a single-phase contact problem consists of, there are two additional continuity conditions in the biphasic contact problem for relative fluid flow and fluid pressure [2]. The problem becomes even more complex when a joint is being modeled. The knee joint, for example, has multiple contact pairs which make the biphasic finite element model of this joint far more complex. Several biphasic models of the knee have been developed [3–9], yet simplifications were included in these models: (1) the 3D geometry of the knee was represented by a 2D axisymmetric geometry [3, 5, 6, 9]; (2) no fluid flow was allowed between contact surfaces of the soft tissues [4, 8] which is inconsistent with the equation of mass conservation across the contact interface [10]; (3) zero fluid pressure boundary conditions were inaccurately applied around the contact area [7].

scholarly journals Evaluation of a posterior cruciate ligament deficient human knee joint finite element model

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achilles Vairis ◽  
Markos Petousis ◽  
Nectarios Vidakis ◽  
Betina Kandyla ◽  
Andreas-Marios Tsainis
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Posterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Human Knee ◽  
Human Knee Joint

Evaluation of an intact, an ACL-deficient, and a reconstructed human knee joint finite element model

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achilles Vairis ◽  
George Stefanoudakis ◽  
Markos Petousis ◽  
Nectarios Vidakis ◽  
Andreas-Marios Tsainis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Finite Element Model ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Human Knee ◽  
Human Knee Joint ◽  
Acl Deficient

Development of a 3-D Non-Linear Finite Element Model of Human Knee Joint

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhua Song ◽  
Richard E. Debski ◽  
Jorge Gil ◽  
Savio L.-Y. Woo
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Full Extension ◽  
Human Knee ◽  
Human Knee Joint ◽  
Non Linear

A 3-D finite element (FE) model of the knee is needed to more accurately analyze the kinematics of a knee joint as well as the function of various soft tissues such as ligaments. The data obtained can provide a better understanding of mechanisms of injury and offer valuable information for ligament reconstruction and rehabilitation protocols. The objective of this study was to develop a 3-D non-linear FE model of a human knee and determine its kinematics and the force and stress distributions within the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in response to anterior tibial loads at full extension. This model was validated by comparing the computed results to data obtained experimentally by a Robotic/UFS testing system [1].

A Finite Element Model of the Human Knee Joint for the Study of Tibio-Femoral Contact

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy L. Haut Donahue ◽  
M. L. Hull ◽  
Mark M. Rashid ◽  
Christopher R. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Contact Behavior ◽  
Element Size ◽  
Solid Models ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Three Dimensional Coordinate

As a step towards developing a finite element model of the knee that can be used to study how the variables associated with a meniscal replacement affect tibio-femoral contact, the goals of this study were 1) to develop a geometrically accurate three-dimensional solid model of the knee joint with special attention given to the menisci and articular cartilage, 2) to determine to what extent bony deformations affect contact behavior, and 3) to determine whether constraining rotations other than flexion/extension affects the contact behavior of the joint during compressive loading. The model included both the cortical and trabecular bone of the femur and tibia, articular cartilage of the femoral condyles and tibial plateau, both the medial and lateral menisci with their horn attachments, the transverse ligament, the anterior cruciate ligament, and the medial collateral ligament. The solid models for the menisci and articular cartilage were created from surface scans provided by a noncontacting, laser-based, three-dimensional coordinate digitizing system with an root mean squared error (RMSE) of less than 8 microns. Solid models of both the tibia and femur were created from CT images, except for the most proximal surface of the tibia and most distal surface of the femur which were created with the three-dimensional coordinate digitizing system. The constitutive relation of the menisci treated the tissue as transversely isotropic and linearly elastic. Under the application of an 800 N compressive load at 0 degrees of flexion, six contact variables in each compartment (i.e., medial and lateral) were computed including maximum pressure, mean pressure, contact area, total contact force, and coordinates of the center of pressure. Convergence of the finite element solution was studied using three mesh sizes ranging from an average element size of 5 mm by 5 mm to 1 mm by 1 mm. The solution was considered converged for an average element size of 2 mm by 2 mm. Using this mesh size, finite element solutions for rigid versus deformable bones indicated that none of the contact variables changed by more than 2% when the femur and tibia were treated as rigid. However, differences in contact variables as large as 19% occurred when rotations other than flexion/extension were constrained. The largest difference was in the maximum pressure. Among the principal conclusions of the study are that accurate finite element solutions of tibio-femoral contact behavior can be obtained by treating the bones as rigid. However, unrealistic constraints on rotations other than flexion/extension can result in relatively large errors in contact variables.

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