Engineers at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. have developed specialized hydraulic machines and software that will let industry make better and longer-lasting implants for people suffering from spinal injuries, disease, or age-related wear.

In the study, engineers use machines to test implants for both the lower back, or lumbar region of the spine, and the neck, or cervical region of the spine. In one test, they attach implants to spines from cadavers, placing them in the Purdue Spine Simulator, a hydraulic machine that recreates the spine's natural movements and shows how the implants withstand everyday activities.

The engineers also use data from their experiments to validate a finite element (FE) model, which companies will use to test implants. FE models, widely used in industry, feature a series of geometric shapes, each providing specific data describing a part's mechanical properties.