ODU Spinal Ligament Senior Project, Spring/Fall 2019
Abstract: Ligaments provide critical support to the spinal column; allowing freedom while preventing
excessive motion. Computer modeling continues to be a challenge due to a lack
of published data on the mechanical properties of spinal ligaments. This
project is concerned with filling this gap by analyzing select ligaments,
mechanically tested as bone-ligament-bone specimens in tension. Of considerable
potential error to determining the stress-strain relationship of the ligaments,
the cross-sectional area measurement has been a primary focus in preparation
for specimen testing. This measurement will also be critical to the quasilinear
viscoelastic method analysis of the time- and history-dependent behavior of the
ligaments. Initial testing has focused on specimen potting methods and
materials, using three-dimensionally printed parts and silicon to simulate bone
and ligament, respectively. With human cadaveric specimens being a challenge to
acquire and prepare, the team will focus future efforts on acquiring,
preparing, and testing pig spinal ligaments. Upon completion of testing, the
pig ligament data will be compared with that of published human ligament data.
Establishing a clear relationship between human and pig ligaments would have
far-reaching implications towards reducing the burden of future studies;
allowing researchers to conduct testing on a larger sample size of specimens.
Team Members: Stephanie Anderson, Matthew Cribb, Robert Martin, Steve Parasidis
Advisors: Dr. Sebastian Bawab, Dr. Stacie Ringeleb, Michael Polanco
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