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Please find below details of three PhD positions available within the
Bioengineering Science Reseach Group at the University of Southampton.
1. PHD PROJECT - EU APPLICANTS ONLY: PROBABILISTIC FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS OF SHORT STEMMED FEMORAL COMPONENTS OF TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT.
The Finite Element (FE) Method remains the method of choice to conduct
stress analyses of hip implants and an important tool for the prediction
of implant behaviour and its subsequent performance optimisation.
High-Fidelity FE models can now be produced and
manipulated from CT scans and parameter variation analyses can be
conducted to gain preliminary understandings of the effects of
individual input parameters on output stresses. However, there is a
great deal of uncertainty and variability associated with the
environment in which a total hip replacement is required to function,
the material properties of the construct components, their alignments,
geometries and boundary conditions. These factors have the potential to
induce high stresses in and around the
interfaces of the implanted construct. In general, studies have
demonstrated that the degree of uncertainty in most FE models can give
rise to widely varying results. One way to address this problem is to
conduct statistical analyses that would take into account the
uncertainty and variability associated with the relevant parameters
instead of conventional deterministic analyses. Previous work at the
University of Southampton has
provided a grounding in the application of probabilistic techniques to
cement and cement/implant interface integrity in the replaced hip. The
factors most likely to affect their integrity have been predicted using
a series of increasingly complex models. The proposed work will analyse
the structural integrity of a novel short stem cementless prosthesis. In
particular the affect of surgical will be addressed to provide a more
informed description of, for example, the allowable tolerances in
implant positioning during surgery.
2. PHD PROJECT - EU APPLICANTS ONLY: PROBABILISTIC FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Clinical studies have shown that the kinematics of total knee
replacements are highly variable and this may have consequences for the
longer term performance. The kinematics are dependent on a number of
parameters, including the design of the knee replacement, the placement
and orientation of the prosthetic components and the laxity of the
surrounding soft tissues. We have developed sophisticated models
capable of simultaneously predicting the kinematics and stresses during
every day activities.
However, our models do not account for the inherent variability present
between patients and in surgical technique. The objective of this
project is to couple probabilistic techniques with numerical techniques
in an effort to determine the performance envelop of different designs
of total knee replacement.
3. ENGINEERING DOCTORATE PROJECT- UK APPLICANTS ONLY: EVALUATION OF
NOVEL CARBON-NANOTUBE CONTAINING BONE CEMENTS
Since the discovery of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in 1991,
followed by the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in
1994, a number of experimental and theoretical studies documenting their
remarkable chemical, electronic and mechanical properties have appeared
in the literature. Such outstanding material properties have led to the
expectation that by reinforcing polymers, metals or ceramics with CNTs
it may be possible to engineer a new class of lightweight,
multifunctional
composites, as has been demonstrated in several polymer systems. These
new materials could offer exceptional mechanical properties,
significantly higher damping capacity than traditional viscoelastic
polymers, and the possibility of imparting inbuilt sensing and actuating
capabilities. It has further been shown that CNTs may offer valuable
bio-functionality, with potential applications in neurological probes
and structural bone cements being reported.
The proposed project will encompass several packages, namely:
Materials Characterisation of standard medical grade and CNT containing
bone cements
Comparison of basic structural characteristics of cements
Bio-compatibility studies
Multi-scale modelling of CNT loaded cement
Whole implanted construct investigations
This programme is therefore expected to form a strong interdisciplinary
basis for further evaluation and exploitation of structural applications
of CNT-polymer systems.
The programme will be run under the Engineering Doctorate scheme,
further details of which can be found at:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~geotech/EngD/ and will involve direct
collaboration with a UK based orthopaedics company, Finsbury
Orthopaedics.
Further details about the School of Engineering Sciences, Postgraduate
Research at
Southampton and an application form can be found at:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/SESPostgraduate/PGResearch/
Alternatively, application forms can be obtained from Ms Julia Zimbler
at the address below.
The closing dates for receipt of completed application forms are 31st
August 2005 for the PhD Studentships and 19th August for the Engineering
Doctorate.
It is anticipated that successful applicants will commence their studies
on or around the 1 October 2005.
Julia Zimbler,
Postgraduate Admissions,
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton,
Highfield,
Southampton,
SO17 1BJ,
UK
Tel: +44-(0)2380-593389,
Fax: +44-(0)2380-595167,
email: jfz@soton.ac.uk
Kind regards,
Mark
Prof. Mark Taylor
Professor of Bioengineering Science
Join the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research
Society (EORS) in Bologna, 2006.
www.ior.it/eors06
Bioengineering Sciences Research Group
School of Engineering Science
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
UK
Tel: ++ 44 (0)2380 597660
Mobile: ++ 44 (0)7939 101019
Fax: ++ 44 (0)2380 593230
Bioengineering Science Reseach Group at the University of Southampton.
1. PHD PROJECT - EU APPLICANTS ONLY: PROBABILISTIC FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS OF SHORT STEMMED FEMORAL COMPONENTS OF TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT.
The Finite Element (FE) Method remains the method of choice to conduct
stress analyses of hip implants and an important tool for the prediction
of implant behaviour and its subsequent performance optimisation.
High-Fidelity FE models can now be produced and
manipulated from CT scans and parameter variation analyses can be
conducted to gain preliminary understandings of the effects of
individual input parameters on output stresses. However, there is a
great deal of uncertainty and variability associated with the
environment in which a total hip replacement is required to function,
the material properties of the construct components, their alignments,
geometries and boundary conditions. These factors have the potential to
induce high stresses in and around the
interfaces of the implanted construct. In general, studies have
demonstrated that the degree of uncertainty in most FE models can give
rise to widely varying results. One way to address this problem is to
conduct statistical analyses that would take into account the
uncertainty and variability associated with the relevant parameters
instead of conventional deterministic analyses. Previous work at the
University of Southampton has
provided a grounding in the application of probabilistic techniques to
cement and cement/implant interface integrity in the replaced hip. The
factors most likely to affect their integrity have been predicted using
a series of increasingly complex models. The proposed work will analyse
the structural integrity of a novel short stem cementless prosthesis. In
particular the affect of surgical will be addressed to provide a more
informed description of, for example, the allowable tolerances in
implant positioning during surgery.
2. PHD PROJECT - EU APPLICANTS ONLY: PROBABILISTIC FINITE ELEMENT
ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Clinical studies have shown that the kinematics of total knee
replacements are highly variable and this may have consequences for the
longer term performance. The kinematics are dependent on a number of
parameters, including the design of the knee replacement, the placement
and orientation of the prosthetic components and the laxity of the
surrounding soft tissues. We have developed sophisticated models
capable of simultaneously predicting the kinematics and stresses during
every day activities.
However, our models do not account for the inherent variability present
between patients and in surgical technique. The objective of this
project is to couple probabilistic techniques with numerical techniques
in an effort to determine the performance envelop of different designs
of total knee replacement.
3. ENGINEERING DOCTORATE PROJECT- UK APPLICANTS ONLY: EVALUATION OF
NOVEL CARBON-NANOTUBE CONTAINING BONE CEMENTS
Since the discovery of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in 1991,
followed by the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in
1994, a number of experimental and theoretical studies documenting their
remarkable chemical, electronic and mechanical properties have appeared
in the literature. Such outstanding material properties have led to the
expectation that by reinforcing polymers, metals or ceramics with CNTs
it may be possible to engineer a new class of lightweight,
multifunctional
composites, as has been demonstrated in several polymer systems. These
new materials could offer exceptional mechanical properties,
significantly higher damping capacity than traditional viscoelastic
polymers, and the possibility of imparting inbuilt sensing and actuating
capabilities. It has further been shown that CNTs may offer valuable
bio-functionality, with potential applications in neurological probes
and structural bone cements being reported.
The proposed project will encompass several packages, namely:
Materials Characterisation of standard medical grade and CNT containing
bone cements
Comparison of basic structural characteristics of cements
Bio-compatibility studies
Multi-scale modelling of CNT loaded cement
Whole implanted construct investigations
This programme is therefore expected to form a strong interdisciplinary
basis for further evaluation and exploitation of structural applications
of CNT-polymer systems.
The programme will be run under the Engineering Doctorate scheme,
further details of which can be found at:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~geotech/EngD/ and will involve direct
collaboration with a UK based orthopaedics company, Finsbury
Orthopaedics.
Further details about the School of Engineering Sciences, Postgraduate
Research at
Southampton and an application form can be found at:
http://www.soton.ac.uk/SESPostgraduate/PGResearch/
Alternatively, application forms can be obtained from Ms Julia Zimbler
at the address below.
The closing dates for receipt of completed application forms are 31st
August 2005 for the PhD Studentships and 19th August for the Engineering
Doctorate.
It is anticipated that successful applicants will commence their studies
on or around the 1 October 2005.
Julia Zimbler,
Postgraduate Admissions,
School of Engineering Sciences,
University of Southampton,
Highfield,
Southampton,
SO17 1BJ,
UK
Tel: +44-(0)2380-593389,
Fax: +44-(0)2380-595167,
email: jfz@soton.ac.uk
Kind regards,
Mark
Prof. Mark Taylor
Professor of Bioengineering Science
Join the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research
Society (EORS) in Bologna, 2006.
www.ior.it/eors06
Bioengineering Sciences Research Group
School of Engineering Science
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
UK
Tel: ++ 44 (0)2380 597660
Mobile: ++ 44 (0)7939 101019
Fax: ++ 44 (0)2380 593230