Osseointegration

The long-term stability of orthopedic and dental implants currently cannot be adequately assessed, leading to insufficient assurance of osseointegration and an increased risk of implant loosening, which may require revision surgery. Building on traditional testing methods, Fraunhofer ITEM has developed a test stand to assess osseointegration. Using a combination of force and acoustic emission measurement, it is possible to examine and understand the damage kinetics at the onset of loading and before complete loosening of the implant in a push-out test.

We are also exploring testing with in vitro generated bone samples to address ethical concerns regarding animal testing. Currently, our research focuses on building a database of various bone fracture characteristics for different implant geometries and materials, as well as bone structures for comparative analysis, along with the automation of processes.