Research

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in many countries. It’s a skeletal disease resulting in reduced bone strength and increased fracture risk. It is our aim to improve the assessment of bone strength, with the goals to better identify the people at risk for fracture, and to improve quantification of treatment effects. Given the intricate structure and composition of bone, this work requires the integration of structural and material properties from different length scales.

key words: bone mechanical properties, bone adaptation, orthopaedic implants, implant fixation, hierarchical imaging, finite element analysis, bone loading, micro-CT, human, rat, mouse.

The Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering research group focuses on the role of the microenvironment for cell behaviour, and in particular on the importance of mechanical signals and mass transport. Multiscale computer models are being developed to quantify the microenvironment and to relate it to cell fate. The group follows an integrative and interdisciplinary approach by tightly coupling computer models to experiments. Main applications are skeletal tissue regeneration and engineering (linked to Prometheus, the skeletal tissue engineering platform at KU Leuven) as well as angiogenesis.

Computer technology and mechatronic devices are becoming more and more essential elements in contemporary surgery. This research line investigates new computer aided design methodologies to develop personalized implants and surgical tools, often based upon medical image information. Within these design processes, biomechanical optimization of the devices is applied. Also in robot assisted surgery systems, biomechanics is expected to play an added role, e.g. when optimizing intra-operative tissue manipulation, designing surgical strategies or limiting tissue damage risks.

Several applications and devices for rehabilitation, prevention and comfort benefit from intro ducing biomechanics into the design. It support the restoration of functions that were lost due to trauma or diseases, and it optimizes systems for body support such as mattresses or seats. BMGO is actively involved in research projects on bicycle helmet design and head protection biomechanics in general, and on the design of optimized, also person-specific, mattresses and sleeping systems. Also project investigating the biomechanics of the foot-ankle complex and the biomechanics of the cervical spine fit within this research line.