Soft tissue-like coupling materials for in vitro acoustic emission studies in total hip arthroplasty

authored by: Magnus Reulbach, Magdalena Meyer zu Vilsendorf, Sinan Yarcu, Bernd Arno Behrens, Sven Hübner, Eike Jakubowitz
Abstract: In hip arthroplasty, relative movements between the femoral stem and bone can lead to implant loosening, resulting in extensive bone loss. Acoustic emission (AE) analysis is a promising technique for a nondestructive and noninvasive detection of these relative movements. To develop such a detection method, in vitro investigations using piezoelectric AE sensors on implant stems in artificial or human femora are required to characterize the AE signals induced by loosening. This study aims to identify suitable coupling materials to bridge the gap between the planar AE-sensor surface and the exposed freeform surface of the femur. Four coupling materials, both synthetic and natural, with acoustic properties similar to human soft tissue were investigated for signal attenuation and repeatability between tests. The synthetic materials demonstrated better inter-sample repeatability. One synthetic material exhibited higher flexibility, enabling better adaptation to the sensor and resulting in significantly lower signal attenuation.
Organisation(s): Institute of Metal Forming and Metal Forming Machines
External Organisation(s): Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume: 164
No. of pages: 7
ISSN: 1751-6161
Publication date: 04.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Biomaterials, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanics of Materials
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106905 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{8f1121942dae46c780966a5fd16516e7,
title = "Soft tissue-like coupling materials for in vitro acoustic emission studies in total hip arthroplasty",
abstract = "In hip arthroplasty, relative movements between the femoral stem and bone can lead to implant loosening, resulting in extensive bone loss. Acoustic emission (AE) analysis is a promising technique for a nondestructive and noninvasive detection of these relative movements. To develop such a detection method, in vitro investigations using piezoelectric AE sensors on implant stems in artificial or human femora are required to characterize the AE signals induced by loosening. This study aims to identify suitable coupling materials to bridge the gap between the planar AE-sensor surface and the exposed freeform surface of the femur. Four coupling materials, both synthetic and natural, with acoustic properties similar to human soft tissue were investigated for signal attenuation and repeatability between tests. The synthetic materials demonstrated better inter-sample repeatability. One synthetic material exhibited higher flexibility, enabling better adaptation to the sensor and resulting in significantly lower signal attenuation.",
keywords = "Acoustic emission analysis, Coupling material, In vitro investigation, Noninvasive loosening detection, Total hip arthroplasty",
author = "Magnus Reulbach and {Meyer zu Vilsendorf}, Magdalena and Sinan Yarcu and Behrens, {Bernd Arno} and Sven H{\"u}bner and Eike Jakubowitz",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",
year = "2025",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106905",
language = "English",
volume = "164",
journal = "Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials",
issn = "1751-6161",
publisher = "Elsevier BV",
}