Regenerative Knee Implant Research
As a researcher at the Columbia Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab, I assisted in the development of a knee implant for patients impacted by osteoarthritis (OA).
The Problem
The mechanical properties of novel, 3D-printed implant materials were not well characterized
Implant components experience multiple loading modes, requiring validation under compression, tension, and torsion
Mechanical behavior depends strongly on geometry, material choice, and printing parameters, making performance difficult to predict
Reliable experimental data was needed to inform design decisions and guide future implant development
Fig. 3D modeling via 3D Slicer
The Approach
Computational Modeling
Built 3D models of tibia and femur geometries using 3D Slicer, Blender, MeshMixer, and SolidWorks, and performed finite element analysis (FEBio) to study stress distribution and mechanical behavior under physiological loading
Fig. Surface smoothening via Meshmixer
Fig. Geometric manipulation via SolidWorks
Material Characterization
Conducted mechanical testing on 3D-printed samples to quantify strength, stiffness, and failure behavior of implant materials
Tested implant scaffolds under compression, tensile, and torsional loading using Instron systems to reflect physiologically relevant loading conditions
Varied geometry, material selection, and printing parameters to understand how each factor influenced mechanical response and failure modes
Fig. Compression testing samples via Instron to characterize material properties
Testing Hardware Design
Designed and iterated a multi-part, 3D-printable mechanical testing fixture in SolidWorks to isolate and load parts and minimizing unwanted degrees of freedom
Contributed to the design and refinement of a friction testing rig for characterizing the coefficient of friction
Fig. Friction tester with 3D printed rigs
The Impact
Produced reliable experimental data validating implant mechanical performance
Improved test repeatability through custom rig and fixture design
Informed geometry and material decisions with quantified mechanical behavior
Executed 250+ mechanical tests (compression, tensile, and torsion) on 3D-printed implant scaffolds
Designed and fabricated custom test hardware (5+ fixtures and jigs)