MHIQ Program Seminar Series
Disability and Rehabilitation (GCORE)

Local Composition Control Using Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Implants
Professor Roger Gonzalez
Professor of the Department of Engineering Education and Leadership,
University of Texas at El Paso, USA

Wednesday 29 January (tomorrow), 12.30–2.00 pm
Griffith University Gold Coast campus (G42_3.06) 
12.30–1.00 pm: Light Lunch
 1.00–1.45 pm: Professor Roger Gonzalez
 1.45–2.00 pm: Q&A Forum

Professor Gonzalez

Biography

Professor Roger Gonzalez is the inaugural Chairman and Professor of the Department of Engineering Education and Leadership. He is also the Founder and former CEO and President of LIMBS International, one of the most recognised international providers of low-cost prosthetic components to the world. LIMBS is a 501(c)3 non-profit humanitarian organisation that designs, creates and deploys prosthetic devices to transform the lives of amputees in the developing world by restoring their ability to walk. Since its founding in 2004, the LIMBS Knee has helped thousands of amputees in over 50 countries on four continents.

Abstract

A New Approach to Multiplanar, Real-time Simulation of Physiological Knee Load with Implications Towards Using Local Composition Control in Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Implants

The purpose of our research is to develop repeatable simulation of physiological loads and develop techniques to fabricate a synthetic-based replacement of cadaver specimens. Our recent endeavors consists of (a) the development of the University of Texas Joint Load Simulator (UTJLS), which can apply physiological loads with synchronous application of ground reaction forces, joint kinematics, and muscle forces, (b) advances in technology and methods for Local Composition Control (LCC) in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and investigates the viability of commercially available filaments for application as synthetic tissue and (c) development of a synthetic femoral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial complex (FATC) and describing its mechanical response to tensile loads applied in two different directions.

From our research in LCC in FFF, we are developing a novel process to blend Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) with functional gradients of PEEK + Carbon Fiber (CF) composites and PEEK + hydroxyapatite (HA) composites. These blends will help mitigate stress concentrators that are commonly observed in orthopedic implants. However, printed (PEEK) parts often warp, crystallize inconsistently, have minimal fusion between layers, and density inconsistencies. Our current research is implementing multiple heating sources with novel feedback control to optimize temperature profiles during printing to minimize unwanted temperature gradients while improving melt and flow characteristics. Unlike techniques described in literature, our laboratory seeks to directly control temperature of the printed part at its top and bottom surfaces throughout the entire printing process. Development of this technology will help to overcome critical barriers that are preventing industries from using FFF to fabricate functional parts, ultimately supporting our laboratory’s current research endeavors to increase life, resilience, and functionality of orthopedic implants.

Please RSVP by ASAP.