spine simulators

Spine Wear Simulator

The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator is a multi-station machine designed for the reliable and repeatable testing of both cervical and lumbar disc implants, providing designers and developers of replacement intervertebral disc replacement devices with a cost-effective and accurate means of measuring wear under realistic in-vivo simulated conditions.

This simulator meets and exceeds the requirements of ISO 18192-1 (Implants for surgery - wear of total intervertebral disc prostheses - Part 1: Loading and displacement parameters for wear testing and corresponding environmental conditions for tests).

All kinematic and loading axes on the Prosim Spine Wear Simulator are driven by servo motors so there is no risk of contamination or oil leaks from conventional hydraulic systems. Real-time feedback from a range of position sensors and load cells provide an accurate means of simulating the range of motions and forces that intervertebral discs are subjected to in everyday life.

The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator has the capacity to test up to six implants simultaneously with an additional two load soak stations for creep testing. A closed-loop serum heating system is included as standard so as to maintain the temperature of the lubricating serum.

The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator includes numerous features and benefits:

• up to six implants can be tested simultaneously
• six articulating stations organised as two banks of three stations with each bank being able to run different simulation profiles
• four axes of articulation
• single load axis per station
• simple user programmability of any articulation/load cycle
• two dedicated creep stations where the prostheses are subjected to axial load
• tracks the standard cycle as defined in ISO 18192-1
• operating frequency of motions programmable up to 2 Hz
• axial rotation, flexion-extension and left-right lateral bend axes are position controlled
• axial load force is controlled
• anterior-posterior shear can be either position controlled, force controlled or can be free floating
• user programmable loading up to 3 kN per station
• intuitive Windows control program
• user interface shows both demand and achieved load or position for each controlled axis
• real time logging of position and load allows instant verification of the test cycle
• up to five different test cycles may be executed sequentially so as to build up a typical day's activity
• closed-loop temperature control of each station

Prosim is able to offer customisation of its simulators to meet client's specific testing requirements.

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