We are developing implantable bone fixation plates (for a rodent model) that can provide real-time force monitoring and mechanical loading to accelerate fracture healing. The plate design features a wireless actuator/sensor based on the magnetoelastic material, which changes its physical dimension from tens of nanometers to a few microns depending on the strength of an externally applied magnetic field. By altering the frequency and magnitude of the material deformation, this technology can provide controlled mechanical stimulations for optimal bone regeneration. The long term goal of this project is to overcome current technological limitations in orthopedic care and provide a comprehensive therapeutic and investigative tool for orthopedic care.

In collaboration with the Guldberg team, our lab has also engineered an implantable strain sensor that can wirelessly transmit real-time strain measurements to a computer using a rodent model of femoral defect healing. The sensor consisted of a strain gauge embedded in a bone fixation plate, which was connected to a battery-powered transceiver based on Bluetooth Low Energy. This technology allows studies on how the design and material of the bone fixation plate affect bone regeneration, and if the mechanical loading measurements can be used to predict the treatment success.

The measured strain at the bone fixation plate during gait of the test subject.