Lower lumbar vertebrae replacement by FEA based assessment of suitable ceramic polymer composites

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 90; pp. 226 - 233
• Main Authors: Prasad, Prakriti, Roy, Shatakshi, Bhavsar, Kathan, Chadha, Utkarsh, Kataray, Tarun, R, Vezhavendhan, Eticha, Tolera Kuma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2023
• Subjects: Artificial Lumbar vertebrae; Biomaterials; Finite Element Analysis; Finite Element Analysis; Artificial Lumbar vertebrae; Biomaterials
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2023.06.093

Using bio-materials to develop a safe, secure, and prime substitute as an external entity to interact inside a human environment is a demanding area of research and expertise. The lumbar spine is the most common site for injury in the spinal column as it bears the majority of the human body’s weight while also undergoing significant prolonged loading and stress. In the same direction, a cost-effective Artificial Lumbar vertebra is designed and recognized to be implanted in the spinal region of a body to replace injured or disfigured counterparts. By harnessing the power of 3D bioprinting, biomaterials, and FEA, the paper proves that a simple bio-printed flexible lumbar vertebrae can be integrated into the body to work in conjunction with the rest of the spinal cord just as any other of the vertebrae do, thereby working in coordination with humans. The material thus obtained will be capable of replacing the injuries in the vertebrae caused by mechanical failures like compressive loading, vertebral slip, or vertebral joint fusion. An overall lightweight structure consisting of a firm material is looked forward to for the paper’s fusion. This insight, research, and design have led to the development of the research paper.