ASP projects

PROPER: Future perspectives of joint prostheses

The project deals with the open issues and future perspectives of joint prostheses. The main topic of the project concerns wear of the bearing surfaces. Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys are widely used in total hip and knee joint replacement. They are able to form efficient artificial joints by means of coupling metal-on-polymer or metal-on-metal contacts. However, a high concentration of stress and direct friction between surfaces lead to the formation of polyethylene wear debris and the release of toxic metal ions in the human body, limiting, as a consequence, the lifetime of the implant. The aim of the project is the investigation of innovative surface/bulk materials in order to improve implant performance. The study mainly involved disciplines such as materials science and biomedical engineering, as well as process industrialization aspects, with attention to commercial applications
and the market (with a “bench to bed” approach). Moreover, the project includes management skills to evaluate business ideas and define the production process (from materials to devices). A further topic of the project consists of a better understanding of the more pressing patient needs. The main steps of the project were the following:
– A good level of knowledge on the state of the art of hip and knee prostheses was achieved by the team. Bibliographical research was performed in order to understand the current open issues.
– A market analysis was performed in order to closely examine current solutions proposed by several companies (manufacturers of orthopaedic implants).
– Preparation and submission of questionnaires to the main companies involved in the prosthesis market.
– Preparation and submission of questionnaires to a number of orthopaedic clinicians.
– Preparation and submission of questionnaires to a number of physiotherapists of patients with hip/knee prostheses.
– Analysis of the answers to the questionnaires.
– The high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process developed by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland ) was considered as a potential innovative technology.
– A number of lab samples of coatings prepared by VTT were characterized.
– Assessment of a business plan concerning a hypothetical company applying VTT technology to the orthopaedic implant sector and support biomedical companies in scouting innovative technologies.
– Team attendance at an International conference concerning orthopaedic implants (Implants 2012 – Lyon).

Principal Academic Tutor
Silvia Spriano
Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino

External Tutors
Maria Giulia Faga
CNR – ISTEC Torino
Alessandro Fais
EPoS S.r.l.
Giacomo Fucale
Azienda Ospedaliera CTO – Maria Adelaide, Torino
Giovanni Maina
Azienda Ospedaliera CTO – Maria Adelaide, Torino
Alessandro Massè
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga
Maria Oksa
VTT – Technical Research Centre of Finland
Jinshan Pan
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Luca Ravera
Bionica Tech S.r.l.

Academic Tutors
Roberto Chiesa
Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano
Luigi De Nardo
Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano
Enrica Vernè
Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino

External institution
EPoS S.r.l.
Azienda Ospedaliera CTO – Maria Adelaide, Torino
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano (TO)
Bionica Tech S.r.l.
CNR – ISTEC; KTH Royal Institute of
Technology (Sweden)
VTT – Technical Research Centre of
Finland

Team members
TEAM A
Marina Carmela Curci, Biomedical Engineering
Giorgia De Guido [Project communication coordinator], Chemical Engineering
Federico Mazzucco, Mechanical Engineering
Alessandra Molteni [Team controller], Biomedical Engineering
Andrea Sosio, Mechanical Engineering
Federica Vaccari, Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering

Download the poster of the Project