Orthopedic simulator with temperature controller arrangement for controlling temperature of specimen baths

Abstract

An orthopedic simulator is provided with a temperature control arrangement for controlling the temperature of a plurality of baths of test stations that are configured to contain a sample under test within a specimen bath. The temperature control arrangement includes fluid circulation tubing that carries temperature control fluid to the baths to control the temperature of the baths through heat exchange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of an orthopedic simulator in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, with an external housing removed for illustrative purposes, and with forces being schematically depicted.

FIG. 2 a is a top view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1; FIG. 2b is a front view; FIG. 2c is a bottom view and FIG. 2d is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the removability of a specimen containment module.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an assembled specimen containment module.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the specimen containment module of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of the specimen containment module of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a base of the specimen containment module of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a circulation loop for circulating a temperature control fluid in a temperature control circuit.

FIG. 8 a is a schematic depiction of a temperature control arrangement for circulating temperature control fluid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts two test stations, with one test station having a specimen containment module releasably attached thereto.

FIG. 10 schematically depicts an exemplary arrangement for circulating bath fluid.

FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of a specimen containment module in an installed position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, with an indication of the flexion and extension motion.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a flexion/extension motion linkage in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, with an indication of the lateral bending motion around an axis of rotation.

FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, with an indication of anterior/posterior and lateral translation motions.

FIG. 17 depicts a portion of an x-y slide assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the x-y slide assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the x-y slide assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, with an indication of loading in a vertical direction.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an actuator in isolation.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the actuator of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the actuator of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the actuator of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, with an indication of the axial rotation linkage and a moment provided at a test specimen.

FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of the orthopedic simulator of FIG. 1, illustrating an embodiment of a central manifold in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 27-29 schematically depict different approaches to linkages.

FIG. 30 schematically depicts a nesting order of forces in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 31 shows the required forces for application to a test specimen intended for a lumbar region according to an exemplary set of curves.

FIG. 32 shows the same information as FIG. 31, but for cervical data.

FIG. 33 shows curves for non-sinusoidal input data in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 34 depicts the orthopedic simulator within a housing.

Claims

1. An orthopedic simulator comprising: a plurality of test stations configured to receive specimen containers containing baths; anda temperature control arrangement configured to control temperature of each of the baths.

2. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the temperature control arrangement includes a heat exchanger at each of the specimen containment modules.

3. The simulator of claim 2, wherein the temperature control arrangement includes a temperature control fluid circuit that circulates temperature control fluid through at least one of the specimen containment module heat exchangers.

4. The simulator of claim 3, wherein at least one of the specimen containment modules includes temperature control fluid tubing with an inlet and an outlet respectively coupled to the temperature control fluid circuit, the temperature control fluid being in a heat-exchanging relationship with the bath of the at least one specimen containment module.

5. The simulator of claim 4, wherein the temperature control fluid circuit includes a temperature controller that controls the temperature of the temperature control fluid in the temperature control circuit.

6. The simulator of claim 5, further comprising a controlling temperature sensor positioned at the temperature controller, the temperature sensor being coupled to the temperature controller to provide the temperature controller with a temperature signal.

7. The simulator of claim 6, wherein the specimen containment modules are connected in series to the temperature control fluid circuit such that temperature control fluid that is output by the temperature controller to a first one of the specimen containers passes through each of the specimen containers before returning to the temperature controller.

8. The simulator of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of the temperature fluid control circuits, with at least some of the specimen containers being separately connected to a respective one of the temperature fluid control circuits.

9. The simulator of claim 5, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of the bath in the at least one specimen containment module, the temperature sensor being coupled to the temperature controller to provide the temperature controller with a temperature signal.

10. An orthopedic simulator comprising: a test station configured to contain a sample under test within a bath; anda temperature control arrangement coupled to the test station to provide a temperature control fluid to the test station to control the temperature of the bath by heat exchange.

11. The simulator of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of the test stations, with at least some of the plurality of the test stations coupled to the temperature control arrangement to receive temperature control fluid to control the temperature of the baths of the test stations.

12. The simulator of claim 11, wherein the temperature control arrangement comprises separate temperature control fluid circulation loops for each of the plurality of test stations coupled to the temperature control arrangement.

13. The simulator of claim 12, further comprising a temperature sensor at each of the plurality of test stations, and a respective heater coupled to the respective plurality of temperature sensors and to the respective temperature control fluid circulation loops to control the temperature of the temperature control fluid within the respective temperature control fluid circulation loops based on the temperatures sensed by the respective temperature sensors.

14. The simulator of claim 11, wherein the temperature control arrangement comprises a single temperature control fluid circulation loop shared by at least some of the plurality of test stations, the at least some of the plurality of test stations being coupled to the temperature control fluid circulation loop serially.

15. The simulator of claim 14, further comprising a controlling temperature sensor positioned remotely from the plurality of test stations, and a heater coupled to the controlling sensor and to the temperature control fluid circulation loop to control the temperature of the temperature control fluid within the temperature control fluid circulation loop based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

16. A temperature control arrangement for controlling the temperature of a plurality of baths, comprising: fluid circulation tubing in heat exchange relationship with the plurality of baths, the fluid circulation tubing configured to carry temperature control fluid to the plurality of baths' anda temperature controller coupled to the fluid circulation tubing, the temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the baths by controlling the temperature of the temperature control fluid in the fluid circulation tubing.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the fluid circulation tubing forms a single continuous circulation loop from the temperature controller to a first one of the plurality of baths and serially through the other of the plurality of baths to a last one of the plurality of baths to the temperature controller.

18. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein each bath is provided in a specimen container, the specimen container including a portion of the fluid circulation tubing positioned in heat exchange relationship with the bath.

19. The arrangement of claim 18, further comprising a temperature probe at the temperature controller and coupled to the temperature controller to provide a temperature feedback signal to the temperature controller.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein each of the baths has a separate circulation loop including respective fluid circulation tubing and a respective temperature controller.

21. The arrangement of claim 19, wherein each bath is provided in a specimen container, the specimen container including a portion of the fluid circulation tubing positioned in heat exchange relationship with the bath.

22. The arrangement of claim 20, further comprising a temperature probe at each bath and coupled to the respective temperature controller to provide a temperature feedback signal to the respective temperature controller.