Objective
Research objectives and content
The goal of the project is to design, build and validate a
six-degree-of-f_edom mechanism for biofidelic test-bed simulation of inter-vertebral motion, employing standard six-degree-offreedom parallel platform design and control techniques. Hereby, loads and deformations are to be generated by a set of pneumatic legs joining the lower (caudal) vertebra (the 'base') with the upper (cephalic) vertebra (the 'platform'), respectively. Forces at the legs are computed by a suitable feed back control law determining pneumatic cylinder chamber pressures as a function of position of the platform and biologic parameters. As a result, a virtual cervical spine mechanism is produced that, although built differently than the natural spine, behaves physically in the same way, i.e. yielding the same stiffness properties as the real system. This makes it possible to adapt the mechanism behaviour to different test objects and load situations, allowing the analyst (physician, medical researcher, surgeon, or biomechanics engineer) to assess effects of therapeutic or surgical treatment prior to its application to the patient. Moreover, it may serve as a powerful tool for educational purposes, and as a highresolution test apparatus for in vitro accurate measuring of biological parameters of spinal units under controlled motion/load conditions.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The expected training benefit would be in the areas of (1) biomechanics, (2) mechanism design, (3) optimisation, (4) advanced multibody simulation, (5) object-oriented programming, and (6) control of mechatronic systems. Additionally, the creation of the targeted virtual cervical spine mechanism would endow physicians and educational instructors with a powerful tool for assessing inter-vertebral motion under physiognomic loads. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
Understanding of inter-vertebral motion and its implications in injury and spine disease is of paramount interest in vehicle industry, insurance and medical industry. Involvement of the project with industry will take place through its link with the two EC contracts 'Whiplash Prevention System (WPS)' (Contract No BRST-CT97-5162(DG12-CZJU)) and 'Whiplash' (Contract No BRPR-CT96-0221 (DG12-RSMT)) currently conducted at the Institute of Mechanics in co-operation with Delphi Automotive Systems, GIE PSA Peugeot Citroen. Fiat, Volkswagen, and TNO.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
8010 GRAZ
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.