iSpine

Development of Individualized Function Integrated Spinal Implants

The goal of the iSpine project was to develop a functionally integrated implant system for improved treatment of spinal defects. A measurement system was developed in which strain sensors are integrated into a radiolucent, fiber-reinforced rod system of an internal fixator in such a defined way that the stresses in the implant system can be analyzed. The sensor data can be recorded by the measurement system and transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device for display and evaluation.
The measurement system was tested on spinal segments from anatomical plastic models and in a cadaver study on defined spinal defects under different loads and the basic functions were validated. The studies confirmed the high sensitivity and good applicability of the functionally integrated implant system for measuring and analyzing different loading and healing conditions. The newly developed implant system should enable medical staff to better assess the healing status of a spinal column and more reliably determine when the implant should be removed.