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Biomedical subjects

Iain R Spears

Publications and source records attributed to Iain R Spears.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Automated method to measure trabecular thickness from microcomputed tomographic scans and its application.

Trabeculae form the internal bony mesh work and provide strength to the bone; interconnectivity, overall density, and trabecular thickness are important measures of the integrity of the internal architecture. Such strength is achieved only gradually during ontogeny, whereby an increase in trabecular thickness precedes an increase in mineralization. Loss of bone mass later in life may be compensated for by thickening of the remaining trabeculae. These facts, and the role of trabeculae in mineral homeostasis, highlight the importance of investigating trabecular thickness within and between species. While nondestructive imaging techniques (i.e., muCT and MRI) are becoming increasingly popular, quantification of trabecular thickness using nondestructive techniques has proved difficult owing to limitations imposed by scanning parameters, uniform thresholding, and partial volume averaging. Here we present a computer application, which aims to overcome these problems. Validation is carried out against a phantom and against trabecular thickness measured in corresponding histological sections. Good agreement was found between these measurements. Furthermore, when trabecular thickness is recorded for modern human fetal ilia, a trend toward trabecular thickness increase is found and is in line with reports of ontogenetic morphometric changes using histological sections. However, there are discrepancies. These may in part be due to partial volume effects of obliquely oriented structures. More crucial, however, are problems inherent in histological sections, e.g., shrinkage and distortion, especially where differences in mineralization are concerned; this may affect biological interpretations.

Female↗
PubMed2005

The effect of heel-pad thickness and loading protocol on measured heel-pad stiffness and a standardized protocol for inter-subject comparability.

BACKGROUND: Heel-pad stiffness is an important parameter in clinical assessments of the lower limb and is usually quantified by the slope of the force-deformation curve. However, the data produced is affected by the geometry of the heel, thus making inferences about tissue behaviour difficult. METHOD: With the use of finite element analysis the aim of this study is to explore the possibility of expressing heel-pad stiffness in terms of stress-strain data. An axisymmetric, non-linear and time-dependent representation of the heel was created. The material model, incorporating non-linearity and viscoelasticity, was based on a series of experiments involving healthy, cadaveric specimens and loading at different loading rates (0, 175 and 350 mm/s). The conditions of an in vivo study were then replicated and stress-strain data of the model were compared. Good agreement was achieved (error <5%) at higher strains (>0.2). Probe diameter, loading rate and heel-pad thickness were then varied and heel-pad stiffness, expressed in terms of both force-deformation and stress-strain characteristics, reported. FINDINGS: In terms of the force-deformation characteristics, thin heels are consistently stiffer than thick heels. In terms of stress-strain characteristics, thicker heels are stiffer than thin heels using small probes whereas thinner heels are stiffer than thick heels using large probes. It was possible to predict stress-strain data of the heel-pad that are least-dependent of heel-pad thickness using large probes and slow-rising loads. INTERPRETATION: It is suggested that stress-strain curves derived from large probes under slow loads would provide the most robust and standardized measure of heel-pad stiffness.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

Effect of prism orientation and loading direction on contact stresses in prismatic enamel of primates: implications for interpreting wear patterns.

The ability of prisms to effectively dissipate contact stress at the surface will influence wear rates in teeth. The aim of this investigation was to begin to quantify the effect of prism orientation on surface stresses. Seven finite element models of enamel microstructure were created, each model differing in the angulation of prism orientation with regard to the wear surface. For validation purposes, the mechanical behavior of the model was compared with published experimental data. In order to test the enamel under lateral loads, a compressed food particle was dragged across the surface from the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) towards the outer enamel surface (OES). Under these conditions, tensile stresses in the enamel model increased with increases in the coefficient of friction. More importantly, stresses were found to be lowest in models in which the prisms approach the surface at lower angles (i.e., more obliquely cut prisms), and highest when the prisms approached the surface at 60 degrees (i.e., less obliquely cut). Finally, the direction of travel of the simulated food particle was reversed, allowing comparison of the difference in behavior between trailing and leading edge enamels (i.e., when the food particle was dragged either towards or away from the DEJ). Stresses at the trailing edge were usually lower than stresses at the leading edge. Taken together with what is known about prism orientation in primate teeth, such findings imply greater wear resistance at the intercuspal region and less wear resistance at the lateral enamel at midcrown. Such findings appear to be supported by archeological evidence.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Australopithecus anamensis: a finite-element approach to studying the functional adaptations of extinct hominins.

Australopithecus anamensis is the stem species of all later hominins and exhibits the suite of characters traditionally associated with hominins, i.e., bipedal locomotion when on the ground, canine reduction, and thick-enameled teeth. The functional consequences of its thick enamel are, however, unclear. Without appropriate structural reinforcement, these thick-enameled teeth may be prone to failure. This article investigates the mechanical behavior of A. anamensis enamel and represents the first in a series that will attempt to determine the functional adaptations of hominin teeth. First, the microstructural arrangement of enamel prisms in A. anamensis teeth was reconstructed using recently developed software and was compared with that of extant hominoids. Second, a finite-element model of a block of enamel containing one cycle of prism deviation was reconstructed for Homo, Pan, Gorilla, and A. anamensis and the behavior of these tissues under compressive stress was determined. Despite similarities in enamel microstructure between A. anamensis and the African great apes, the structural arrangement of prismatic enamel in A. anamensis appears to be more effective in load dissipation under these compressive loads. The findings may imply that this hominin species was well adapted to puncture crushing and are in some respects contrary to expectations based on macromorphology of teeth. Taking together, information obtained from both finite-element analyses and dental macroanatomy leads us to suggest that A. anamensis was probably adapted for habitually consuming a hard-tough diet. However, additional tests are needed to understand the functional adaptations of A. anamensis teeth fully.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

The effect of loading conditions on stress in the barefooted heel pad.

PURPOSE: High internal stress is considered to be a possible cause of heel-pad problems. External biomechanical measurements are used to attempt to understand the causes of heel pain. However, internal stress cannot be measured experimentally. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between magnitude of force, time to peak force, and sole angle with internal stresses in the heel using a finite element model. METHODS: Computer tomography (CT) was used to create a nonlinear time-dependent three-dimensional finite element model of the heel pad. The material model was based on previously reported force-displacement data derived from in vitro experiments. Although it was not possible to compare internal calculations of stress with experimental data, good agreement was found for external plantar pressures and strains when compared with in vivo values. Internal stresses and external plantar pressures were then investigated for different forces, loading rates (i.e., time to peak force), and angles of foot inclination in the sagittal plane (i.e., sole angle). RESULTS: The results of the model indicate that compressive stress is localized in the region inferior to the calcaneal tuberosity. Peak internal compressive stress was greater than external plantar pressure. Increasing the loading rate (i.e., reducing the time to peak force) caused plantar pressure to increase to a greater extent than internal stress. The general levels of stress were higher when the heel was loaded in an inclined position (i.e., greater sole angle). CONCLUSION: The finite element technique provides a useful step in bridging the gap between external measures and internal mechanics of the heel pad. A combined kinematic, kinetic, and modeling approach may be required when attempting to identify the biomechanical source of heel pain.

Heel↗
PubMed2003

The effect of saddle design on stresses in the perineum during cycling.

PURPOSE: Repetitive internal stress in the perineum has been associated with soft-tissue trauma in bicyclists. Using an engineering approach, the purpose of this study was to quantify the amount of compression exerted in the perineum for a range of saddle widths and orientations. METHODS: Computer tomography was used to create a three-dimensional voxel-based finite element model of the right side of the male perineum-pelvis. For the creation of the saddle model, a commercially available saddle was digitized and the surface manipulated to represent a variety of saddle widths and orientations. The two models were merged, and a static downward load of 189 N was applied to the model at the region representing the sacroiliac joint. For validation purposes, external stresses along the perineum-saddle interface were compared with the results of pressure sensitive film. Good agreement was found for these external stresses. The saddles were then stretched and rotated, and the magnitude and location of maximum stresses within the perineum were both recorded. In all cases, the model of the pelvis-perineum was held in an upright position. RESULTS: Stresses within the perineum were reduced when the saddle was sufficiently wide to support both ischial tuberosities. This supporting mechanism was best achieved when the saddle was at least two times wider than the bi-ischial width of the cyclist. Stresses in the anterior of the perineum were reduced when the saddle was tilted downward, whereas stresses in the posterior were reduced when the saddle was tilted upward. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations that saddles should be sufficiently wide to support the ischial tuberosities appear to be well founded. Recommendations that saddles be tilted downward (i.e., nose down) are supported by the model, but with caution, given the limitations of the model.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The effect of mouthguard design on stresses in the tooth-bone complex.

PURPOSE: Mouthguards protect the tooth-bone complex from impact loads that occur during sporting activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of varying mouthguard thickness and stiffness on the magnitude of tensile stresses in the tooth-bone-complex. METHODS: A two-dimensional, plane stress, finite element representation of a central maxillary incisor (CMI) is created. For validation purposes, displacements of the incisal edge of the unprotected tooth model are compared with in vivo displacements under similar loads. A protective mouthguard is then superimposed over the model with varied labial thickness (1-6 mm) and stiffness (9-900MPa) representing a range of designs available. A large horizontal static load of 500N is then applied to the anterior surface of the mouthguard and the resulting stresses in the tooth-bone complex are presented. It is suggested that this loading condition most accurately represent the situation occurring when a guarded tooth collides with a soft object (e.g. boxing glove). RESULTS: It is generally found that mouthguard thickness and stiffness are both desirable in terms of reducing stresses. However, the protection offered by the low-stiffness guards, regardless of thickness, is minimal. Since this low-stiffness (9MPa) is representative of the most common choice of material in mouthguard fabrication, such findings may cast doubt on the ability of popular mouthguards to redistribute stress. CONCLUSION: While few would disagree that these low-stiffness guards absorb shock during hard-object collisions (e.g. baseballs), they may not protect the tooth-bone during soft-object collisions (e.g. boxing gloves). In order to optimize their protective capabilities for a range of loads, the range of materials used in mouthguard construction may have to be reconsidered.

Equipment Design↗