Biotribology of Natural and Artificial Joints

Book excerpt: Biotribology of Natural and Artificial Joints: Reducing Wear Through Material Selection and Geometric Design with Actual Lubrication Mode provides a thorough overview of key issues surrounding the tribological behaviors of both natural and artificial joints, covering methods for optimizing the properties of biomaterials, summarizing the lubrication and contact mechanics of natural and artificial joints, and offering solutions to tribological problems in soft biomaterials and surface failures of materials. Sections cover biomechanics and biotribology of natural and artificial joints, articular cartilage and synovial fluids, methods for improving the tribological properties of artificial joints, and the biotribology of artificial joints with artificial cartilage, regenerated cartilage, and biomimetic design solutions. - Provides insights on how to optimize the performance of artificial joints via friction reduction, better material selection and improved geometric design - Looks at the effects of rubbing and loading on tissue regeneration with chondrocytes - Discusses lubrication and contact mechanisms for reducing friction and wear in artificial and natural joints - Outlines artificial joint design considerations for achieving low wear