A Novel Soft-Computing Technique in Hydroxyapatite Coating Selection for Orthopedic Prosthesis

Abstract

In the recent era of advanced technology, the use of bio-coatings in prosthetic application has extensively been increasing. The selection of bio-coatings depends upon a number of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Therefore, the right selection of bio-coating in particular application requires suitable mathematical and scientific basis. This study explores a new fuzzy-based mathematical algorithm for analysis and evaluation of performance characteristics of bio-coatings for proper decision makings. The proposed method is illustrated with a suitable example on evaluation and selection of bio-coating for orthopedic prosthesis under fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making environment. In this technique, diverse important criteria are considered and their importance weights are estimated applying experience and opinion of the experts involved in the decision-making process. Based on the criteria, alternative bio-coatings are screened and respective performance ratings are evaluated for further processing. Subjective importance is assigned to each expert based on respective experience and capability. Thereafter, performance ratings of alternative bio-coating, weights of criteria, and importance weights of experts are integrated with soft-computing tool in logical manner. The result and analysis of the problem under consider reveal that the proposed technique is completely capable of evaluating and selecting the best bio-coating in prosthetic application. The comparison of the result obtained by the proposed method with those found by conventional decision-making techniques for the solution of the problem validates the proposed problem as a useful technique in the field.