Dynamic Fatigue Testing Femoral Nails

Orthopaedic fixation devices are used during reconstructive surgery to treat fractures of bones and soft tissue injuries normally caused by trauma. Intramedullary devices, such as femoral nails, are used to provide stability and maintain the alignment of bone fragments during the healing process. Quantification of important characteristics, such as bending strength or stiffness, can provide surgeons insight into implant performance, while allowing researchers to compare device materials and designs. It's also important to determine the fatigue life of the implant over a specific time period or range of maximum loading.

The flexibility of our dynamic systems, such as the ElectroPuls™ All-Electric Test Instruments or 8870 servohydraulic series, allow laboratories to investigate a comprehensive range of device characteristics and performance. Normally following ASTM standards, fixtures are often unique to the objective and application of the tests and results.

The 8874 Axial-Torsion servohydraulic system uses customized test fixtures to apply the correct fatigue loading to the femoral nail, while preventing side loading of the load cell and actuator.