# Development and validation of embedded micro wireless strain sensor array for in vivo characterization of contact stress distribution in hip replacement

> **NIH NIH P20** · CLEMSON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $186,358

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most widely performed orthopedic surgeries in the US. Unfortunately,
many follow-up revisions are often expensive and ineffective. Many simulation studies show that the failures
are caused by edge loading and excess stresses resulting from inappropriate component positions or size
selections during surgeries. The lack of an in vivo stress distribution characterization method at the joint
interface currently prevents the fundamental understanding of the effect of surgery factors such as the
positioning and choice of implants on the THA outcome. Our goal is to develop embedded, micro wireless
strain sensors for in vivo characterization of the biomechanical stress distribution and validate their usefulness
in THA. The project will harvest our recent breakthroughs in development of embeddable microfluidic sensors
that are highly sensitive to micro-strains. These sensors will be further developed into arrays and embedded
into the UHMWPE insert for in vivo measurement of the stress distributions. The sensor arrays embedded in
UNMWPE will be calibrated and validated using cadaver testing. We will also study the effect of the
radiographic inclination angles and anteversion angles on the stress distributions at the contact interface of the
hip joint. The underlying hypothesis is that the femoral/acetabular bearing surface stress distribution is strongly
correlated with the positioning, and the quantitative correlation (once established) can be used to guide THA
and improve its outcome. We will pursue three specific aims. Aim 1: Develop and calibrate micro wireless
strain sensors embedded within UHMWPE. Aim 2: Validate the strain mapping capability of the sensor array
embedded UHMWPE using cadaver testing and finite element modeling. Aim 3: Preliminarily evaluate the
embedded strain sensors in animal studies. This research is innovative in that it will provide a precise, in vivo
stress distribution characterization method at the hip joint interface, which is currently greatly needed but
unavailable. This research is significant in that we will 1) Establish the fabrication method of the highly
sensitive, micro-sized, biocompatible, embedded wireless strain sensors; 2) Enable the analysis of surface
stress distribution with different implant positioning; 3) Provide a useful tool for future fundamental studies on
the interrelated effects of other THA parameters, such as the component sizes and ligament tension, on the
biomechanical environment at femoral head/UHMWPE insert interface. Providing a new tool for in vivo
characterization of the stress distribution, this project integrates with the COBRE's research theme in virtual
human trial to improve musculoskeletal health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10007937
- **Project number:** 5P20GM121342-03
- **Recipient organization:** CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Fei Peng
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $186,358
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10007937

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10007937, Development and validation of embedded micro wireless strain sensor array for in vivo characterization of contact stress distribution in hip replacement (5P20GM121342-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10007937. Licensed CC0.

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