Sensors 2013, 13(1), 1-20; doi:10.3390/s130100001
Article

Investigation of a Passive Sensor Array for Diagnosis of Loosening of Endoprosthetic Implants

Cathérine Ruther 1,* email, Christian Schulze 1 email, Andrea Boehme 1 email, Hannes Nierath 2 email, Hartmut Ewald 2 email, Wolfram Mittelmeier 1 email, Rainer Bader 1 email and Daniel Kluess 1 email
1 Department of Orthopaedics, University Medicine Rostock, Doberaner Str. 142, 18057 Rostock, Germany 2 Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 2, 18055 Rostock, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 23 October 2012; in revised form: 5 December 2012 / Accepted: 13 December 2012 / Published: 20 December 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Sensors Technology in Germany 2012)
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Abstract: Currently, imaging methods are used to diagnose loosening of endoprosthetic implants, but fail to achieve 100% accuracy. In this study, a passive sensor array which is based on the interaction between magnetic oscillators inside the implant and an excitation coil outside the patient was investigated. The excited oscillators produce sound in the audible range, which varies according to the extent of loosening. By performing several experimental tests, the sensor array was optimized to guarantee reproducible and selective excitation of the sound emission. Variation in the distance between the oscillators demonstrated a definite influence on the quality of the generated sound signal. Furthermore, a numerical design analysis using the boundary element method was generated for consideration of the magnetic field and the selectivity of the oscillators during excitation. The numerical simulation of the coil showed the higher selectivity of a coil with a C-shape compared to a cylindrical coil. Based on these investigations, the passive sensor system reveals the potential for detection of implant loosening. Future aims include the further miniaturization of the oscillators and measurements to determine the sensitivity of the proposed sensor system.
Keywords: total joint replacement; aseptic loosening; intelligent implant; boundary element method; magnetic induction; loosening sensor

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Ruther, C.; Schulze, C.; Boehme, A.; Nierath, H.; Ewald, H.; Mittelmeier, W.; Bader, R.; Kluess, D. Investigation of a Passive Sensor Array for Diagnosis of Loosening of Endoprosthetic Implants. Sensors 2013, 13, 1-20.

AMA Style

Ruther C, Schulze C, Boehme A, Nierath H, Ewald H, Mittelmeier W, Bader R, Kluess D. Investigation of a Passive Sensor Array for Diagnosis of Loosening of Endoprosthetic Implants. Sensors. 2013; 13(1):1-20.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruther, Cathérine; Schulze, Christian; Boehme, Andrea; Nierath, Hannes; Ewald, Hartmut; Mittelmeier, Wolfram; Bader, Rainer; Kluess, Daniel. 2013. "Investigation of a Passive Sensor Array for Diagnosis of Loosening of Endoprosthetic Implants." Sensors 13, no. 1: 1-20.

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