Tissue Biomechanics
Biomekanik för vävnader

BMEN10F, 7.5 credits

Valid from: Autumn 2017
Decided by: Professor Thomas Johansson
Date of establishment: 2017-05-23

General Information

Division: Biomedical Engineering
Course type: Course given jointly for second and third cycle
The course is also given at second-cycle level with course code: BMEN10
Teaching language: English

Aim

The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge in biomechanics and mechanobiology of the skeletal tissues (bone, articular cartilage, tendons and ligaments) and to understand the pathomechanics of injury, adaption and degenerative changes with aging, as well as how biomaterials can be used in loaded regions of the body. Moreover, the course aims to provide an insight into current biomechanical research of skeletal tissues.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• understand the musculoskeletal system of the human body
• understand the composition-structure-function relationships of the skeletal tissues and be able to described these in mechanical terms (linear elasticity, poroelasticity, viscoelasticity)
• understand the basics of mechanobiology; how tissues are formed, repaired and optimized (remodeling) as a result of mechanical simulation
• understand how systems of joints, e.g. the hip and the knee, works in a mechanical sense, and how prosthesis, implants and biomaterials are designed in order to function mechanically in the human body.
• understand the mechanical consequences of the main pathologies and degenerative diseases of the skeletal tissues

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• be able to formulate and solve mechanical problems for the skeletal tissues.
• be able to read, understand and recapture scientific articles related to the course topics.
• be able to make use of experimental techniques to mechanically characterize both hard and soft skeletal tissues.
• be able to make use of numerical techniques to solve and optimize biomechanics and mechanobiological problems.

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• be able to assess and design implants for joint replacement.
• be able to evaluate methods to understand and characterize mechanical properties of skeletal tissues.
• be able to interpret and discuss scientific literature related to biomechanics

Course Contents

The tissues in the human body that builds up the musculoskeletal system (i.e. bone, articular cartilage, ligaments and tendons) are largely mechanical in nature and are critical for our health. Their mechanical competence are affected by their composition-structure-function relationship. This course is structured around solid mechanics of materials and their application to the study of mechanical behavior of skeletal tissues, bones, cartilage, bone-implant systems, joints and biomaterials. Topics include: mechanical behavior of tissues (anisotropy, viscoelasticity, fracture and fatigue) with emphasis on the role of the microstructure of these tissues; structural properties of whole bones and implants (composite and asymmetric beam theories); and mechanical function of joints (contact mechanics, lubrication and wear). The role of mechanobiology in the evolution and development of the musculoskeletal system is described, as well as its influence during tissue repair, remodeling and degeneration. The course describes and applies the available methods to assess and understand these tissues both from an experimental and numerical approach, and how to use experimental data to develop theoretical models, as well as on using the knowledge gained to address common health related problems related to aging, disease and injury. The design and function of implants and prosthesis are also described and coupled to the mechanics and biology of the system.

Course Literature

Research based material (mostly handouts and review articles) are provided in the course

Instruction Details

Types of instruction: Lectures, laboratory exercises, project

Examination Details

Examination formats: Written report, written assignments, miscellaneous. One assignment is performed in a group and presented both in a written report and as an oral presentation. Two sets of laboratory exercises, both including experimental and finite element modeling exercise, is performed in group. These are reported in one combined report (exp + num) for each laboratory set, individually. Procedures for extra assignments to pass the course when failed, are arranged after contact with the course coordinator.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Assumed prior knowledge: Basic courses in mathematics, mechanics, solid mechanics, and Biomechanics (BMEN05 or equivalent)

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinator: Hanna Isaksson <hanna.isaksson@bme.lth.se>
Web page: http://bme.lth.se/course-pages/tissue-biomechanics/tissue-biomechanics/