Determination of the proximity tolerance for measurement of surface contact areas using a magnetic tracking device

Zong Ping Luo, Glen L. Niebur, Kai Nan An

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Undisrupted joint contact areas can be determined based on surface proximity from combined surface geometry and bony kinematics measured with a magnetic tracking device. This technique is useful for evaluating the apparent region of contact in the normal joint. After disruption of the supporting structures or other simulated pathology, the locations and size of the contact region can be compared with the normal condition. However, the contact results may be highly sensitive to measurement errors. In this study, the accuracy of this method was evaluated for three simple geometric objects: (1) a flat plate, (2) a cylinder, and (3) a sphere, all in contact with a flat surface. The results indicated the contact can be determined within an average proximity of 0.16 ± 0.01 mm (mean ± standard error) with the flat plate, 0.07 ± 0.02 mm with the cylinder, and 0.06 ± 0.08 mm with the sphere. The proximity values are nearly the same as the translational accuracy of the equipment, and might be used as thresholds for in vitro studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)367-372
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Biomechanics
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1996

Keywords

  • Accuracy
  • Joint contact area
  • Magnetic tracking device
  • Simple geometric surfaces

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Rehabilitation

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