Medical Technologies IKC | 14
Enabling technologies
World-leading simulation facilities at the University of Leeds enable us to put medical implants and devices developed in Medical Technologies IKC projects through rigorous testing before clinical trials.
We use sophisticated computer simulation techniques to both inform and test the design of surgical implants such as joint replacements, spinal implants and heart valves. Our laboratory simulators enable us to validate those models further through comprehensive physical testing. We provide rigorous long-term testing data that can predict clinical performance under a range of conditions to refine device design and ensure patient safety.
We also work closely with a number of companies developing medical devices to produce Standard Operating Procedures for testing and evaluating their
technologies. Working with international collaborators, our work informs international standards development for preclinical simulations for implant assessment.
The Leeds joint simulation facility allows full validation of an implant, using advanced equipment that can mimic accurately the biomechanics of human joints. This provides important performance data that can be used as part of the device’ s regulatory compliance and can inform the need for large animal pre-clinical models.
The tissue-engineered devices we are developing within the Medical Technologies IKC have the potential to be extremely disruptive. The ability to test them in natural joint simulators that can allow for variables such as surgical positioning and can calculate the impact of that on the wear of the device is really exciting. Ultimately, it will enable us to validate a range of device solutions for the regeneration and restoration of joints and joint function – and in turn, that will allow clinicians to choose the solution that best suits each patient’ s specific need.