Download PDF
Archus Orthopedics: Accelerating Spinal Implant Development with IoT
Technology Category
- Sensors - Infrared Sensors
- Wearables - Implants
Applicable Industries
- Life Sciences
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Digital Twin
- Virtual Reality
Services
- Testing & Certification
The Challenge
Archus Orthopedics, a biomedical company, was faced with the challenge of predicting the nonlinear motion of the spine when fitted with an implant. This is a crucial aspect in the development of their Total Facet Arthroplasty System™ (TFAS®), a patented spinal implant designed to treat spinal stenosis. The traditional method of determining this motion was through cadaveric testing, a process that was not only time-consuming but also ineffective for performing design iterations on new motion-restoring spinal implant designs. The company needed a more efficient and accurate method to simulate the quality of motion of the natural spine and predict the nonlinear motion of the spine with an implant.
About The Customer
Archus Orthopedics is a privately held biomedical company based in the U.S.A. Founded in July 2001, the company is dedicated to developing a family of reconstructive implants to treat a variety of spine disorders resulting from degenerative changes in the facet joints. One of their key products is the Total Facet Arthroplasty System™ (TFAS®), a novel, patented spinal implant designed to treat spinal stenosis. This condition, characterized by degenerative changes in the facet joints leading to compression of spinal nerves, produces neurological symptoms in the legs. The TFAS® replaces the degenerative facet joints with a prosthetic joint implant intended to restore stability and normal motion to the spine, eliminating the need for fusion.
The Solution
Archus Orthopedics turned to ANSYS Mechanical to address this challenge. ANSYS Mechanical was used to simulate the quality of motion of the natural spine and accurately predict the nonlinear motion of the spine outfitted with an implant. This was achieved by using an anisotropic hyperelastic material model for the intervertebral disc tissues. To further improve the simulation efficiency of the full spine model, ANSYS AI*Environment was used to create an all hexahedral mesh of the spine. This innovative approach allowed Archus Orthopedics to accelerate the development of new spinal implants by providing a more accurate simulation of the naturally nonlinear quality of motion of the spine.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
Corporate Identity Solution Adds Convenience to Beckman Coulter
Beckman Coulter wanted to implement a single factor solution for physical and remote logical access to corporate network. Bechman Coulter's users were carrying smart card badges for doors, but also needed a one-time password token to access to our corporate network when they were not in the office. They wanted to simplify the process.
Case Study
Embracing Business Success in Real Time
· Increase control over growing Big Data to improve business decisions · Manage data for 28,000 biotechnology stockkeeping units in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, animal cell cultures, plant tissue cultures, and lab ware for laboratory chemicals · Accelerate report generation and analysis with real-time data
Case Study
Flow Robotics: Scaling Up Production and Accelerating Product Development with IoT
Flow Robotics, a Danish manufacturer, developed flowbot™ ONE pipetting robots to alleviate the strain on bioanalysts in life-science laboratories and hospitals across Europe. These robots were designed to automate part of the testing process, speeding up the time it takes to produce results and reducing pressure on staff. However, the company faced challenges in scaling up production and accelerating product development. High workloads and physically challenging conditions have long been an issue for laboratory professionals. Flow Robotics estimates that around half of medical lab technicians carry out the same arm movements for at least a quarter of their working day. The American Society for Clinical Pathology reported that 85% of laboratory professionals feel burnt out; 36% struggle with inadequate staffing; and 32% face a heavy workload and pressure to complete all testing on time.
Case Study
Revolutionizing Aerospace Industry with 3D Printing: A 63% Lighter Titanium Part
GE Aviation, a renowned name in the aerospace industry, recognized the potential of 3D printing technology in transforming the sector. The primary challenge was to reduce the weight of the aerospace parts, which would directly impact the fuel costs. A lighter airplane would mean lower fuel consumption, leading to cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint. However, achieving this weight reduction without compromising the strength and functionality of the parts was a significant challenge. Traditional manufacturing methods were not able to provide the desired weight reduction while maintaining the required stiffness and strength of the parts. The challenge was to find a solution that could create strong, light, and functional aerospace parts.
Case Study
Material Intelligence at Ethicon: Sustaining Medical Device Manufacturability and Improving Patient Care
Ethicon, a world-class medical devices company, faced several challenges in its operations. The rapid selection of manufacturing materials compliant in global markets was critical to assure patients, practitioners, and purchasing organizations of the biocompatibility of their medical devices. Ensuring supply chain continuity and minimizing risks of obsolescence for medical devices due to regulatory changes were also crucial in meeting Ethicon’s ongoing commitment to maintaining patient care. Furthermore, the engineers at Ethicon were developing the next generation of medical devices and needed to access historical material data to accelerate new product development. The process of centralizing and digitalizing its materials information was a significant challenge that Ethicon needed to overcome.
Case Study
IWT's Transformation: Customizing with Efficiency in IoT
IWT, a company specializing in the design, manufacture, and installation of washing systems for the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, faced a significant challenge in managing its wide product portfolio. The company manufactures 45 different models, 60% of which are customized to some degree. This high level of customization, combined with limited production quantities, necessitated a controlled process for managing the release of engineering changes. The goal was to achieve efficiency, reduce process time, and better coordinate production throughout the organization. The need for strict compliance in heavily regulated industries further complicated the situation. IWT's existing PLM journey with Dassault Systèmes’ SOLIDWORKS for 3D CAD and Enovia for managing CAD data and Bills of Materials (BOMs) was proving inadequate. The system had limited part classification, no workflow, and no tool to ensure data consistency. The management of non-CAD documents was also a challenge, with information often difficult to find and access.
