ROBOTIC SIMULATION OF AN ECCENTRIC LEVER ARM PROTOCOL AND A NOVEL HEAD WEIGHT PROTOCOL FOR EVALUATION OF THE SUBAXIAL CERVICAL SPINE:AN IN VITRO BIOMECHANCIAL COMPARISON

摘要

The Spine Robot's ability to control end loads in real time enable it to execute a variety of biomechanical tests, making it unique in its ability to directly compare different protocols. The different end load conditions investigated produced significantly different MSU motion responses. The EL protocol has previously been reported to produce a more physiologic moment distribution compared to other standard protocols [1]. However, due to fixturing constraints, it cannot produce loads at C2 that simulate head weight in vivo. The HWL protocol attempted to correct this and simulate an always present vertical force on the spine from the head. Studies incorporating the HWL protocol to study surgical alterations of the cervical spine are in progress, as well as use of the Spine Robot to develop new loading protocols.