Lubrication property of total knee prostheses with PV A hydrogel layer as artificial cartilage

Yoshinori Sawae, Teruo Murakami, Hidehiko Higaki, Sigeaki Moriyama

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To solve the tribological problems such as wear and loosening in existing knee prostheses composed of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and metal or ceramics, a new design was attempted to realize adaptive multimode lubrication in the artificial joint. For this purpose, artificial articular cartilage is required, which has a similar structure and function to natural articular cartilage. In this study, PVA (polyvinylalcohol) hydrogel was used as artificial cartilage in the total knee prostheses. A PVA hydrogel layer was placed on an articulating surface of the tibial component, and their lubrication property during walking was evaluated by the knee joint simulator test. Silicone rubber (another compliant material) and UHMWPE were also tested and their frictional behaviors were compared with that of PVA hydrogel. As a result, PVA hydrogel showed suitable frictional behavior as artificial cartilage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)356-364
Number of pages9
JournalJSME International Journal, Series C: Dynamics, Control, Robotics, Design and Manufacturing
Volume39
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Engineering(all)

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