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Research
Facilities
Orthopaedic BioMaterials Laboratory,
under the direction of Alan S. Litsky, M.D., Sc.D., is located in the Davis
Medical Research Center. The lab is a multi-functional materials testing facility
where a variety of basic and applied biomaterials research is conducted such
as static, fatigue, and viscoelastic materials evaluation, implant stability
testing, bone and ligament strength determinations, and fracture fixation rigidity
testing. Projects include the development and evaluation of a reduced-modulus
bone cement, quantification of the mechanical degradation of bioabsorbable
implants, and implant micromotion measurements.
The lab is centered around an MTS Bionix 858 axial-torsional
servohydraulic materials test system with a dedicated 400 MHz microcomputer
and TestStar software for instrument control and data acquisition. An array
of grips and fixtures are available for holding a variety of specimen types.
Other equipment and instruments include a strain-gage conditioner for handling
the output of strain gauges and extensometers, multiple LVDTs and controllers
for quantifying micromotion, a temperature-controlled chamber for pseudophysiologic
testing and a three-dimensional micromotion transducer assembly for quantifying
implant stability. Also available in the laboratory is a laser micrometer for
optically measuring the dimensions (and computing the cross-sectional area)
of specimens. This is of particular value when dealing with soft tissues which
deform when measured with mechanical instruments (calipers, etc).
An adjacent room, used primarily for the formulation of bone
cement resins and the preparation of specimens, is equipped with a fume hood,
freezers, a slow-speed diamond saw, a grinding/mixing roller mill, and a digital
mini-lathe for reproducible specimen preparation.
The Department of Orthopaedics has acquired an EXAKT system
consisting of a 310CPV Band Saw for precision controlled sectioning of tissues
and implants with minimal interface aberration, a 400CS Grinding System for
precision grinding and polishing of tissue specimens and particularly tissues
with implants, and a 520 Light Polymerization Unit for mounting specimens in
epoxy resin. This system has been set up as a joint venture with the College
of Veterinary Medicine and is located in the Bone Histology Laboratory in
the Veterinary Hospital Building where it is jointly administered by the Departments
of Orthopaedics and Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Orthopedic Ergonomics Laboratory,
directed by Steve Lavender, PhD, has as its primary goal the improvement of
the physical interaction between workers, their work, and the work environment
through the study of the musculoskeletal system's response to work activities.
The focus of the work conducted in this laboratory is studying the body's biomechanical
response to a variety of occupational tasks, potential workplace interventions,
and the development of models predictive of back injury development and recovery.
This is achieved through the measurement of body movements, joint loads, and
muscle recruitment patterns as different types of activities are performed.
While much of the work relates to furthering our understanding of how to better
optimize the interface between people and their work environments, the same
measurement capabilities and techniques are applicable to addressing sports
biomechanics research questions.
This facility consists of approximately 600 ft2 of
research space and the supporting computer facilities in Dodd Hall. The laboratory
is equipped with 6 degree of freedom motion measurement systems, force platforms
for obtaining ground reaction forces, strain gauges for measuring the forces
exerted as activities are performed, and surface electromyographic (EMG) recording
equipment.
Orthopedic Molecular Medicine Suite and Applied Research
Laboratory, directed by Dr. Alicia Bertone, is on the 3rd floor
of the Veterinary Academic Medical Building directly adjacent to Goss Laboratories
and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This research suite is ~1000 sq.ft
of laboratory space with bench tops internet-connected workstations. Room
325B is ~500 sq. ft. dedicated to DNA processing and gene expression analysis
and contains two laminar flow hoods, a 80C freezer, an Iso Temp 20C freezer,
refrigerator, Applied BioSystems Taqman 7000 Sequence Detection System
(RT-PCR analyzer) and dedicated PC computer with Primer Express software,
refrigerated Micro centrifuge, (2) MJ minicycler PCR Centrifuge engines,
a Sorvall RC-5C Microcomputer Controlled Super speed Refrigerated Centrifuge
with changeable rotors, New Brunswick Incubator/Shaker, Eppemdorf Electroporator
2510, electrophoresis gel-casting units, pH meter, analytical balance,
water and dry baths, pipetters, supplies, glassware and other accessories
necessary for molecular biology applications. Also in 325B, a central area
houses a BioMate3 Spectrophotometer, Zylux Tube Luminometer, Kodak GelDoc
Photography digital imaging system, and ultra Microplate reader served
by a Dell 1.7 Gb processor. An iMac (1 Gb) computer with accessories including
a digital still/video cam recorder, 6-card reader, and CD burning capabilities
serves this section. This card reader serves as the computer interface
for the digital image capture systems on the GelDoc, Olympus CK40 Inverted
and CX41 Compound Microscope and Canon Elura 20 MC Video chip/digital camera.
Room 325C is ~400 sq. ft. dedicated to cell/tissue culture and vector propagation
and contains two laminar flow hoods, one that operates at BSL2-level containment.
The module contains (2) ThermoForma water jacketed forced air, reach-in
CO2 incubators, water bath, pipetters, refrigerator, Maytag dishwasher,
Barnstead thermolyne autoclave, tissue homogenizer, liquid nitrogen storage
tank, Olympus CK40 inverted florescent microscope with viewing screen,
Olympus DP12 digital camera and Olympus P330N color printer. A power G3
computer serves this section. Room 325D is ~100 sq. ft. dedicated to imaging
and processing and houses an Olympus CX41 phase-compound microscope with
a camera and monitor, and a Zeiss stereomicroscope. This area is the processing
center for the other modules and houses the common color printer, laser
printer, and scanner. An iMac computer serves this module. Additionally
the PI share an ~250 sq. ft. radioisotope laboratory equipped with tow
laminar flow hoods, CO2 jacket incubator, and scintillation counter for
cell/tissue culture metabolic studies.
Access is also available to all common equipment in the common
laboratories on the e3rd and 4th floors of the
Veterinary Medical Academic building. These facilities include additional high-speed
and ultra speed centrifuges, scintillation counters, sonicator, cryostat, controlled
temperature rooms, dark room, autoclave room, ice maker, glassware facility,
radiographic film processor, fluorescence gel documentation equipment.
Microvascular Skills Laboratory is located in
Riverside Methodist Hospital and provides the residents (and attending staff)
with access to anatomic models, cadavers, and animal models for surgical practice.
The lab is equipped with anatomic models and simulators for learning arthroscopy,
fresh frozen cadaver specimens for practicing new surgical techniques, and
an operating microscope for practicing vascular repairs on animal vessels.
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