Projects
Development of accurate mathematical models for ship motions, ship manoeuvres and the interacting forces involved Ghent University
Having accurate mathematical models of ship motions, ship manoeuvres and the influence of wind, current, proximity to banks, shallow areas and other ships is necessary to investigate if large ships can sail safely in the Belgian and other waterways. This is not only important for these large seagoing vessels, but also for smaller and faster ships and hydrofoil vessels.
Sound Hip: research on the fixation of the hip prosthesis KU Leuven
Improving the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis in low-income country, a proof of concept in Burundi Hasselt University
Development of a membrane-covered hip implant to prevent osteolysis KU Leuven
Total hip replacement (THR) is one of the most frequently performed orthopedic surgeries. Despite the fact that THR is a successful operation with relatively high survival rates, a large absolute number of revisions are needed. The main reason for revision is aseptic loosening, often caused by osteolysis, the process of bone resorption due to the excessive presence of particles, mostly PE particles originating from the implant. Attempts ...
Sound Hip. Development of a method for stability assessment and fracture prev ention in revision THA. KU Leuven
During a cementless revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), the prosthesis is fitted in the central region of the femur. Until now, the initial fixation of the prosthesis is determined by the tactile and auditory experiences of the orthopedic surgeon. This proves to be a challenging task, even for experienced surgeons, as the margin between an optimal fixation and an intra-operative fracture is very narrow. This formidable challenge is ...
Elevating Gait Rehabilitation: Design of a Torque-Controlled Hip Flexion and Extension Exoskeleton KU Leuven
Cerebral Palsy (CP) occurs is about 1.7/1000 births. In Flanders, about 110 children are diagnosed with CP annually. About 46% of these children need walking aids or cannot walk at all. About 30% of them may benefit from exoskeleton treatment, which can provide intensive and reproducible training.
These types of robotic revalidation devices are not commercially available. Therefore, the cross-border INTERREG 2 Seas project, acronym ...
Excellence in sap flow research requires accurate temperature control equipment Ghent University
The reference temperature calibrator (RTC-156B) and plant growth chamber (HGC-154) enable high-accuracy calibrations of sap flow sensor measurement needles. Accurate calibrations are essential when quantifying sap flow and plant water content, but are also needed to ensure accurate performance of other temperature sensors (e.g. air temperature used in the UGent/FBW meteo-station). The fully controlled growth chamber is vital to ensure further ...
Mechanical pathways in the onset and progression of cartilage lesions of the hip joint. Ghent University
Variations in hip joint morphology have been suggested tot give rise to altered load distributions and peak joint stresses. Recent literature indicates that these mechanisms could be responsible for the development of early hip osteoarthritis. The aim of this thesis will be to explore the impact of variation in hip joint anatomy on loading patterns during daily living activities.
Optimizing a vibro-acoustic measurement method to prevent fractures during revision total hip arthroplasty KU Leuven
26 000 Total Hip Arthroplasties (THA) were performed in Belgium in 2015 and this number increases yearly. 80% of THA are cementless, hence the implant is press-fitted in to the bone. Inadequate intraoperative fixation of the implant is one of the main reasons for revision surgeries. Moreover, excessively press-fitting the implant in the bone may cause intra-operative fractures. These revisions and intra-operative fractures pose a significant ...