Papers by Author: Hideki Yoshikawa

Abstract: It was reported that one-dimensionally elongated pores in implants promote the production of new bone tissue possessing both high bone density and the preferential alignment of biological apatite (BAp) c-axis/collagen as a bone quality parameter. This finding indicates that the anisotropic orientation and/or migration of osteoblasts guided by the grooved-pore surface affected the establishment of the anisotropic microstructure of bone tissue. In this study, a grooved polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) implant, which may have a role in regulating osteoblast arrangement, was prepared to investigate the relationship between cell behavior and bone microstructure. A cylindrical Teflon implant with 8 grooves on its side was prepared. The width and depth of the groove cross-section were 0.5 and 0.75 mm, respectively. Each implant was inserted in a drill-hole defect created on a rabbit femur such that the groove direction was parallel or perpendicular to the long bone axis in which the BAp c-axis aligns one-dimensionally. The Young’s modulus of Teflon is approximately 0.5 GPa, much lower than that of bone; therefore, the effects of applied stress can be eliminated in this model. The oriented new bone was preferentially produced along the grooved surface. The alignment direction of the BAp c-axis was almost parallel to the grooved surface even near the surface vertically aligned to the long bone axis. The geometry of the implant surface can control the organization of BAp alignment through the arrangement of osteoblasts to orient and subsequently to migrate along the surface direction; hence, implant geometry, particularly the groove, is considered an important factor controlling the BAp orientation of regenerated bone tissues.

Abstract: The quantity and quality of regenerated bone strongly depends on the direction and amplitude of in vivo principal stress; therefore, in vivo stress distribution near bone implants should be optimized on the basis of the morphology of the interface between an implant and bone tissue. In this study, grooves were created on the implant surface in order to improve the surface morphology of the implant for optimizing in vivo stress distribution near the implant. The preferential alignment of the biological apatite (BAp) c-axis, which is a parameter of bone quality and controls the mechanical function of bones, is closely related to stress distribution; therefore, the direction of principal stress should be matched with the direction of the groove on the implant surface. Hip implants were prepared with grooves aligned at different angles from the surface; the grooves were located on the stem portion. These implants were inserted in a beagle femur to investigate the dependency of the quantity and quality of newly formed bone in the grooves on the groove angle. The degree of preferential alignment of the BAp c-axis of the regenerated bone in the grooves strongly depends on the angle of the groove to the principal stress vector that was estimated previously to an animal experiment. The regenerated bone forms anisotropic BAp orientation in response to the principal stress in the grooves; therefore, the direction of the grooves has to be designed on the basis of the stress distribution near the implant.

Abstract: Amid increasing numbers of artificial joint implantation surgeries, improving the quality of life (QOL) for patients by accounting for individual variation is a primary concern. Thus, we aim to develop implants designed to optimize the interface between implant and living bone. In particular, for ensuring long-term durability and stability after implantation, we focused on inducement of appropriate alignment for biological apatite (BAp) crystallites and the related collagen (Col) fibers as a bone quality parameter. In this study, we predicted that when stress is applied to bone, the BAp/Col preferential alignment can be formed on the basis of our previous result if osteocytes, which can sense its around stress field, are in an environment that is aligned with the principal stress vector. We tested this idea by introducing grooves with the different angles on the implant surface, considering the principal stress direction. This study finally analyses the effect of stress transmission by a load at the proximal femur on the bone inside and near the grooves by using a mechanical simulation in which groove angles and positions can be changed on the implant surface. Furthermore, we carried out animal experiments using a 2-years-old beagle to examine the effect of grooves in the principal stress direction on the surface in vivo. As a result, bone formation in grooves on the implant surface strongly depends on the grooved angle to the principal stress vector and the grooved position on implants. The new bone preferentially formed inside the grooves parallel to the principal stress direction predicted by three dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) in the proximal area of beagle femur.

Abstract: A femoral Prosthesis Stem made from composite material is investigating to apply to real body. The purpose of this study is to propose a design method of novel composite stem. Finite element models of stem and femur have been developed by using CT images. Some design parameters of the stem have been described and the effect of mechanical properties on the femur has been also described and compared with a traditional metal stem. The evaluation procedure for the stem has been proposed and been applied to a composite stem. It is revealed that the stem made of composite is more effective than the traditional stem made of metal.