By improving our understanding of how both natural and synthetic materials perform and interact within the human body, we aid the discovery and development of refined alternatives, enabling us all to live a more fulfilling life.
Many would imagine biomedical tribology is limited to replacement joints; however, this is not the case. Research has long been conducted to develop and improve the tribosystems found in a whole range of biomedical appliances. These are not only limited to replacement joints but also contact lenses, medicines and dental implants to name a few. PCS’ instruments are used by researchers around the world to help push this work forward, facilitating advancements that can change people’s lives for the better.
Tribology plays a key role in the development of medicines, primarily in how medicines are delivered into the body, with particular focus on how smoothly both solid and liquid medicines can travel down the oesophagus, and whether they coat it as they do or slide straight through. For contact lenses, the importance of tribology is more obvious. The interfaces between a contact lens and an eyeball, and the contact lens and an eye lid are what drive how comfortable a contact lens is for its wearer. Without in-depth research and investigation of these interfaces, people could be left with uncomfortable or even dangerous lenses.
For replacement joints, tribological research is vital in understanding how effective materials and coatings will be when in situ. For example, research is ongoing on the effectiveness of replacement synovial joints. These joints (e.g. knee and hip joints) are continuously transmitting large dynamic loads whilst accommodating a wide range of movements. Due to trauma and diseases – such as osteoarthritis – these joints occasionally need to be replaced by artificial implants. Tribology research considers the friction, wear and lubrication of natural and artificial joints including the wear debris from the joint implants, and the human body’s reaction to this.
Artificial Joints
Artificial joints typically comprise of two surfaces rubbing against each other, the core of tribology. Researchers conduct extensive work examining this interaction between parts and how they will act when in the body.
Biomaterials
Biomaterials, be they artificial or natural, interact with biological systems. The study of this interaction is crucial in designing biomaterials that work harmoniously with the world around us.
Dental
Teeth interact daily with each other, with food and with your toothbrush. Understanding these contacts is important for designing everything from toothbrushes, to replacement teeth and implants.
Ocular
The eye is a particularly delicate tribosystem and is an area of intense research. The contact lens-to-eye and to eye lid interfaces must be perfect to make sure they stay comfortable and in place all day.
Orthopaedics
A greater understanding of the body and how different joints work, how they degrade and how they can be damaged is being gained from tribological research into orthopaedics.
Pharma
Tribology is a common research area in pharma for many reasons, an example is how pills and liquid medicines interact with the oesophagus, whether they need to coat it or slide smoothly through.
A ball-on-plate reciprocating friction and wear test system, assessing the performance of both fuels and lubricants under boundary conditions.
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A ball-on-disc instrument for measuring the frictional properties of lubricated and unlubricated contacts under a wide range of rolling and sliding conditions.
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A fully automated, benchtop instrument, measuring lubricant film thickness down to 1nm in the elastohydrodynamic (EHD) lubricating regime.
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Biotribology is – more than almost any other form of tribology – the one we encounter most in our day …
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