RESEARCH ARTICLE


Nano-Material Aspects of Shock Absorption in Bone Joints



H Tributsch*, a, F Copfb, p Copfb, U Hindenlangc, F.U Niethardd, R Schneidere
a Retired from Free University Berlin, Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, 14195 Berlin, Takustrasse 3, Germany
b Bionic GmbH Schloss Monrepos , Gebäude 1, D-71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany
c Lasso Ingenieurgesellschaft GmbH, Leienfelderstr. 60, D-70771 Leienfelden- Echterdingen
d RWTH Universitätsklinik, Orthopädie, Pauwelstr. 3ß, D-52074 Aachen
e High Performance Computing Center, D-70569 Stuttgart, Nobelstr, 19


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Creative Commons License
© Tributsch et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the San Leopoldo 47, 33016 Pontebba, Italy, Tel/Fax: 0039402890684; E-mail: helmut.tributsch@alice.it


Abstract

This theoretical study is based on a nano-technological evaluation of the effect of pressure on the composite bone fine structure. It turned out, that the well known macroscopic mechano-elastic performance of bones in combination with muscles and tendons is just one functional aspect which is critically supported by additional micro- and nano- shock damping technology aimed at minimising local bone material damage within the joints and supporting spongy bone material. The identified mechanisms comprise essentially three phenomena localised within the three–dimensional spongy structure with channels and so called perforated flexible tensulae membranes of different dimensions intersecting and linking them. Kinetic energy of a mechanical shock may be dissipated within the solid-liquid composite bone structure into heat via the generation of quasi-chaotic hydromechanic micro-turbulence. It may generate electro-kinetic energy in terms of electric currents and potentials. And the resulting specific structural and surface electrochemical changes may induce the compressible intra-osseal liquid to build up pressure dependent free chemical energy. Innovative bone joint prostheses will have to consider and to be adapted to the nano-material aspects of shock absorption in the operated bones.

Keywords: Bone joint prostheses, spongy bone material, nano-material properties, pressure induced chemistry, shock absorption..