Design and simulation - virtual orthopedic lab

Computer simulations have evolved over approximately 5 decades to solve numerical problems. Such techniques for biomechanics, however, are relatively new and complicated. Commercial and university-developed tools for biomechanics analyses are both available and it is up to the end user to intelligently determine which tool would best suit his/her needs. The Virtual Orthopedic Lab (VOL) at Fraunhofer IPA, in collaboration with SimTech at Universität Stuttgart, aims to solve complex biomechanical problems through collaborative development of tools and techniques. The VOL, ideally, hopes to minimize the time required for product development of medical devices by replacing frequent experimental tests with simulated tests. The development of a unified interface (Graphical User Interface) for interacting CAD and FE tools that may significantly improve the current product development time is also another main objective of the VOL. The VOL also collaborates with the University of Southampton to study statistical modeling techniques and the development of a "Virtual subject" upon whom these medical devices could be tested.