Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The human tibia: Static testing in bending by anin vivo method

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have developed a method for static testing of the human tibia in bending in the living subject, and fabricated a prototype device for carrying it out. Model testing indicates that the device and model system are inherently accurate and reliable. However, the biological system is more complex, and while more than 200 tests have been conducted with perfect safety, the variability of replicate tests suggests that the method does not yet have general clinical utility. In some subjects, that variance is relatively small, possibly because they are more relaxed and perhaps also for anatomical reasons. In two subjects, postmortem tests corresponded very well with antemortem tests on the tibiometer. We conclude that with further refinements the method may have clinical potential, if only in carefully selected subjects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Granik, G. and I.D. Stein. Bone testing in the living human subject. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology 14:202, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hight, T.K., R.L. Piziali, and D.A. Nagel. Natural frequency analysis of a human tibia.J. Biomech. 13:139–147, 1980.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. The tibiometer. A device for bone testing in the living person. Design and initial calibration. Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology 15:256, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. The tibiometer. First clinical trials of anin vivo bone testing device. Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology 17:174, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. Rib structure and bending strength: An autopsy study.Calcif. Tissue Res. 20:61–73, 1976.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. The tibiometer. Postmortem findings in patients tested on this device during life. Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology 18:104, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. The tibiometer. Test reproducibility in an improved model. Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and Biology. 20:247, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. The human tibia. A simplified method of radiographic analysis of its cross section, with anthropometric correlations.Ann. Biomed. Eng. 7:103, 1979.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. Human vertebral bone: Relation of strength, porosity and mineralization to fluoride content.Calcif. Tissue Int. 32:189–194, 1980.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Stein, I.D. and G. Granik. Tibiometry. InOrthopedic Mechanics, Procedures and Devices, edited by D.N. Ghista, London: Academic Press, 1981, pp. 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yamada, H. and F.G. Evans.The Strength of Biological Materials. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1970, pp. 1–80.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Service, U.S. Veterans Administration Medical Center, East Orange, New Jersey

    Ira D. Stein (Chief)

  2. Department of Medicine College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

    Ira D. Stein (Chief)

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey

    Gerald Granik

Authors
  1. Ira D. Stein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerald Granik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the Research Service of the Veterans Administration

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stein, I.D., Granik, G. The human tibia: Static testing in bending by anin vivo method. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 10, 281–294 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367309

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367309

Keywords

Search

Navigation