The Experimental Joint Research Laboratory, housed in the School of Engineering, has an eclectic mix of engineering and surgical tools strewn about the hodgepodge of tables that fill the work space. Thick cables run the length of the room all leading to the focal point, a large metal frame hooked up to a severed human leg. "Make sure you stay behind the camera system so you don't get your shoes dirty," said Chadd Clary, a Ph.D. student from the University of Denver.
Last week, KU played host to a meeting of joint researchers from across the globe. An assembled party of twenty-six sojourned in from places the University of Denver, the University of Southampton, The University College of Dublin, and the University of Rochester. "This is the first time a meeting this large has ever happened," said Jim West, a graduate student in mechanical engineering.
The collection of scientists gathered at the lab to observe and assist in the physical testing of the motion of human legs in a quest to perfect the artificial knee replacement. Tactile testing is the portion of the research which KU specializes in, using advanced equipment designed and built by the director of the lab, Lorin Maletky, a professor in the mechanical engineering program.
The scientific gathering spanned three days, the first of which consisted of multiple meetings, said West.
The second day was spent preparing two cadaverous legs and testing them while unaltered. Students arrived well before the sun was up to start thawing the frozen legs and organizing equipment. Maletsky, said they spend most of the day putting weights on tendons and recording data as they move the leg through natural motions such as walking, bending and squatting.
The researchers stayed in the lab until 2:30 am, when they went off to catch a few hours of sleep before returning at 7:30 am to resume work.
The third day, surgeons were flown in to begin the intensive process of removing the knees and replacing them with prototype artificial joints. After both surgeries are completed, the legs are then placed in the advanced simulators designed by Maletsky. The students then spend the rest of the day putting the limbs through the same barrage of testing as the second day, so the researchers can compare and contrast the natural joints with the synthetic ones.
The data is crunched and passed on to other schools involved in the project such as The University of Denver, which specializes in computational models. "We can get maybe one or two knees done a month, but with computers we can run through a thousand, "said West, "It really speeds things up."
Companies take the data and the findings generated from the experiments and use it to develop and improve on their artificial joints which are then manufactured and sent back to KU to test, starting the cycle over.
"With the broader nature of the consortium and us being able to give data to other schools and we get data back from them, that's really where we can get answers about a question from multiple perspectives," said Clary.
Last week's consortium was the first this semester. West said the University normally goes through the intensive testing process four or five times a semester though meetings are never this large.
The students involved with the project are grateful for meeting, working and exchanging with so many other academics from around the world. "It's humbling," said Mark Baldwin, graduate student from the University of Denver, " It doesn't take long for two people that are knowledgeable to put their heads together and come out with something that's a better product of the two than each by themselves."
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