Design and Testing of an Autonomous Computer Controlled Loading Device to Study Tissue Adaptation around Immediately Loaded Implants in the Reindeer Antler

Abstract

The investigation of bone remodeling phenomena around immediately loaded dental implants with regard to clinical, histological and biomechanical aspects is of great importance. The main interest is directed towards the time-dependant behavior of the bone around the implants. The aim of this work was to develop an autonomous loading device that has the ability to load any inserted implant with a defined force for predetermined time slices. For the execution of the experimental Studies a novel animal model will be established. For this task, the reindeer antler will be used as a reference model for bone remodeling processes as implant bed. For loading the implants, an autonomic simulator for the application of occlusal forces has been developed. The mechanical part of this device can be attached to the antler and it is capable of cyclically loading the implant with forces of up to 100 N. The loading device was subsequently tested with a biomechanical measuring system. The calibration of devices such as using a force/torque transducer with a range of 80N was done. This exhibit A logarithmic force/current relationship. PU - SPRINGER-VERLAG BERLIN PI - BERLIN PA - HEIDELBERGER PLATZ 3, D-14197 BERLIN, GERMANY