Data for: Evaluation of patient-specific cranial implant design using finite elemental analysis
Description
This study aims to assess the load-bearing capacity of three patient-specific cranial implants. Although various studies exist that have analysed the mechanical behaviour of cranial implants, little attention is given to the design evaluation of a ceramic-titanium (CeTi) implant. The CeTi implant consists of a solid part in the centre of the implant and a scaffold at the border, both made of the Ti6Al4V-alloy. In the scaffold structure, HydroSet® is injected and sculpted. In order to better understand the mechanical behaviour of the CeTi implant, both tangential and axial screws are compared with a PEEK implant. Six computational models are developed in Abaqus/CAE. For each patient-specific implant, a global as well as a local model is constructed. The global models are subjected to two static loading conditions representing an impact load and the intracranial pressure. Nodal boundary conditions are imposed on the local models which represent the two aforementioned loading conditions. The global models are used to evaluate the location and magnitude of maximum Von Mises stress and displacement, whereas the local models offer the possibility to evaluate the Max Principal Stress in more detail. Hence, this work offers a broad view of the biomechanical properties of the cranial implants as different stress criteria are evaluated. Interaction properties are assigned between the cranial implant and neurocranium in order to mimic the biofidelic situation. Linear elastic and isotropic material properties are implemented for the various models. The results of the different analyses show that the PEEK cranial implant offers a less good brain and neurocranial protection due to its high flexibility and local peak stresses at the bone-screw interface. The CeTi implants are able to evenly distribute the stresses along the interface and thus reduce the risk for neurocranial fracture. The scaffold structure at the border of the implant reduces stress shielding and enhances bone ingrowth. Moreover, brain injuries are less likely to occur as the CeTi implant has a small deflection. The design evaluation presented in this work can further be used for design optimization purposes.