Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M92096/01
Title:	JREI: A SIX STATION KNEE JOINT SIMULATOR. ALTERNATIVE BEARING MATERIALS FOR ARTIFICIAL KNEE JOINTS
Principal Investigator:	Fisher, Professor J
Other Investigators:	Ingham, Professor E Stone, Mr M Jin, Professor Z
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Prosim Ltd University of Leeds
Department:	Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:	University of Leeds
Scheme:	JREI
Starts:	01 October 2000	Ends:	30 September 2003	Value (£):	70,000
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Biomaterials
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Total joint replacement is one of the most successful applications of biomaterials with good (up to 90%) success rates at 15 years. In the longer term wear debris induced osteolysis causes loosening and failure, and in the hip this has been primarily shown to be due to submicron size polyethylene wear debris. In the last few years alternative bearing couples for the hip have been researched and developed. Nearly all knee joints currently use polyethylene as a bearing material and it is predicted that, as knee implants progress into the second and third decade of their lifetimes, the problem of osteolysis will followthe pattern that has been seen in hip replacement. The equipment grant is for a six station knee joint simulator to study the durability, wear debris and osteolytic potential of five different altnerative bearing materials for the knee. The novelty of the research lies with the investigation of the tribological performance in terms of the biological reactivity and osteolytic potential of the wear debris generated. The alternative materials to be investigated include: (a) Surface engineered femoral counterfaces sliding on polyethylene; (b) Molecularly orientated and corsslinked polyethylene; (c) Composite cushion bearings: (d) PEEK and CFRP; (e) Ceramic on ceramic bearing couples. Projects will be carried out in collaboration with industry with the aim of identifying bearing couples for future developments which will provide 20 to 30 years osteolysis free life.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.leeds.ac.uk