Abstract
Studying the lubrication properties of osteoarthritis (OA) synovial fluid (SF) enables an understanding of the boundary lubrication joint, mobility, and friction. However, tribology has never been combined with the clinical reality of the presence of worn particles within the synovial fluid and how they affect the osteoarthritic joints. Part of the problem relates to the tribology methods studying friction by applying inadequate pin-on-disc techniques. In this study, synovial fluid with and without worn particles was studied using a customized tribometer. This method enables opening the contact at the end of each cycle and simulates better contact conditions of a natural knee joint and can thus be applied for evaluating the severity of joint OA and the treatment given to the patient.
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The experimental test rig was funded by Maof Fellowships, the Council for Higher Education of Israel (Prof. Haytam KASEM).
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Israel DVIR. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2022 from the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem (JCE), Israel. He joined the Tribology and Microstructure team headed by Prof. Haytam KASEM at JCE in 2020 as a research assistant student, and later as research engineer in 2022. His research areas cover the tribology of bionic microstructures and biotribology.
Kareem ABD-RBO. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2016 from the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem (JCE), Israel, and his master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry in 2019 from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Hadassah Ein Kerem, Israel. His thesis focused on biomedical engineering and tribological aspects of biomimetic micro-textured adhesive films. Currently, he works as an innovation project manager at the cardiovascular bioengineering hub in Hadassah Medical Center, Israel, where he is involved in research and development of proof of concept technologies in the field of medical devices and healthcare.
Leonid (Arieh) KANDEL. He received his master’s degree from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and completed residency in orthopedic surgery at Hadassah Medical Center Israel. Later he was trained in Adult Reconstructive Surgery both in Sydney, Australia, and in Jerusalem, Israel. He was a senior orthopedic surgeon since 2003 and today he is the chairman of the department of Orthopedic Surgery at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Israel. He is professor (education) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and his research interests include joint tribology and psychological aspects of orthopedic surgery.
David SEGAL. He was a chairman of Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Boston City Hospital, USA, and later at Hadassah Medical Center, Israel. For many years he was one of the leading orthopedic surgeons in Israel and he educated few generations of orthopedic surgeons. After his retirement in 2002 he was involved in numerous research projects in areas of tribology, cartilage and infections treatment. Professor SEGAL passed away earlier in 2023 after a long battle with cancer.
Haytam KASEM. He received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Haute Alsace in Mulhouse, France, in 2004. He received his Ph.D. degree in tribology of composite materials from the University of Orleans, France, in 2008. He joined the Tribology Laboratory at Technion, Israel, in 2012 and the Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem (JCE), Israel, in 2013. His current position is associate professor, head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and head of the Tribology and Microstructure Laboratory at the JCE. His research areas cover the tribology of bionic microstructures, biotribology, mechano-chemical surface treatment and tribology of friction brakes.
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Dvir, I., Abd-Rbo, K., Segal, D. et al. New experimental methodology to evaluate lubrication properties of synovial fluid containing worn tissue particles in osteoarthritis patients. Friction 11, 2132–2141 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-023-0748-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-023-0748-4