Our technology: AI-assisted bone healing simulation
Detecting bone healing at an early stage is difficult: you can’t palpate it, you can barely see it on imaging data.
Our solution is here to help.
We deploy digital twins for personalized fracture care and optimized therapy management.
The technology has been tested and corroborated for the meta- and diaphyseal sections of long bones for several fracture scenarios.
Our approach enables in-silico testing of different bone types, fracture scenarios and treatment approaches.
Our long-term goal: The simulation of bone healing in the entire human skeleton.
REFERENCES
We build on the extensive scientific groundwork done at Ulm University and by a worldwide community. Our team covers state-of-the-art know-how in fracture healing simulations, with a proven track-record in scientific publications.
A selection of the most important publications:
- Armbruster, J, Engelhardt L, et al. Predicting non-unions in tibial shaft fractures: Can digital twins contribute to a reliable prognosis?, Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU), Berlin 2024
- Maisenbacher, T.C.; Libicher, S.; Erne, F.; Menger, M.M.; Reumann, M.K.; Schindler, Y.; Niemeyer, F.; Engelhardt, L.; Histing, T.; Braun, B.J. Case Studies of a Simulation Workflow to Improve Bone Healing Assessment in Impending Non-Unions. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 3922.
- Degenhart C, Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. Computer-Based Mechanobiological Fracture Healing Model Predicts Non-Union of Surgically Treated Diaphyseal Femur Fracture, J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(10), 346
- Engelhardt L et al, An innovative web-based learning platform for improving knowledge and skills in fracture healing simulation in application to literature comparison of in-vivo data, X International Conference on Computational Bioengineering, Vienna 2023
- Braun B, Histing T, Einfluss der Mechanik auf die Pseudarthrosenentstehung und Ausheilung – ein zweischrittiges Simulationsverfahren für Screening und Detailanalyse, Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU), Berlin 2023
- Engelhardt L, The translational perspective, Invited Talk on the ORS ISFR Meeting 2023, Dallas
- Schütze K, Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. Prognose des Konsolidierungszustandes operativ versorgter diaphysärer Femurfrakturen durch eine Computersimulation, Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (DKOU), Berlin 2022
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, Degenhardt C, et al. Klinische Anwendung der mechano-biologischen Frakturheilungssimulation zur Prognose des Konsolidierungszustandes operativ versorgter diaphysärer Femurfrakturen. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biomechanik, Köln 2022
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, Christen P, et al. Simulating Metaphyseal Fracture Healing in the Distal Radius. Biomechanics. 2021;1(1):29–42.
- Pietsch M, Niemeyer F, Urban K, et al. Including the Implant Degradation Process in a Fracture Healing Model. In: Proceedings of the 8th World Congress of Biomechanics. Dublin; 2018.
- Pietsch M, Niemeyer F, Simon U, et al. Modelling the fracture-healing process as a moving-interface problem using an interface-capturing approach. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2018;0(0):1–9.
- Niemeyer F, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Simulating lateral distraction osteogenesis. PLOS ONE. 2018;13(3):e0194500.
- Niemeyer F, Trautwein F, Wilke H-J, et al. Optimizing Spinal Fusion Implants Using Bone Healing Simulations. In: Proceedings of the ORS 2017 Annual Meeting. San Diego; 2017.
- Simon U, Niemeyer F. Numerical Simulation of Fracture Healing and Bone Remodelling. In: Simpson H, Augat P, eds. Experimental Research Methods in Orthopedics in Trauma. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2015:181–189.
- Steiner M, Niemeyer F, Claes L, et al. Adjusting Mechanoregulatory Rules for Numerical Fracture Healing Simulation from Sheep to Rat. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Amsterdam; 2014.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Numerical Simulation of Callus Healing for Optimization of Fracture Fixation Stiffness. Costa-Rodrigues J, ed. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(7):e101370.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Disadvantages of interfragmentary shear on fracture healing—mechanical insights through numerical simulation. J. Orthop. Res. 2014;32(7):865–872.
- Niemeyer F, Bartolini L, Engelhardt L, et al. Using bone healing simulations to design and optimize a novel spinal fusion implant. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Amsterdam; 2014.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Prediction of fracture healing under axial loading, shear loading and bending is possible using distortional and dilatational strains as determining mechanical stimuli. J R Soc Interface. 2013;10(86):20130389.
- Engelhardt L, Niemeyer F, et al. A New Bone Implant Concept: AMPLIFIX – First Numerical Results of Dynamic Osseointegration Simulation. In: CBU 2013 proceedings: 18th International Symposium on Computational Biomechanics in Ulm, 2013.
- Wehner T, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Optimization of intramedullary nailing by numerical simulation of fracture healing. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2012;30(4):569–573.
- Steiner M, Claes L, Ignatius A, et al. Optimization of Input Parameters for Fracture Healing Simulations. In: CBU 2011 proceedings: 17th International Symposium on Computational Biomechanics in Ulm, Jürgen Salk et al. (eds.).; 2011. Available at: http://vts.uni-ulm.de/doc.asp?id=7717.
- Simon U, Augat P, Utz M, et al. A numerical model of the fracture healing process that describes tissue development and revascularisation. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2011;14(1):79–93.
- Reina-Romo E, Gómez-Benito MJ, Domínguez J, et al. Effect of the fixator stiffness on the young regenerate bone after bone transport: Computational approach. Journal of Biomechanics. 2011;44(5):917–923.
- Wehner T, Claes L, Niemeyer F, et al. Influence of the fixation stability on the healing time — A numerical study of a patient-specific fracture healing process. Clinical Biomechanics. 2010;25(6):606–612.
- Niemeyer F, Wehner T, Claes L, et al. Simulation of the Callus Distraction Treatment. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering. Valencia; 2010.
- Chen G, Niemeyer F, Wehner T, et al. Simulation of the nutrient supply in fracture healing. J Biomech. 2009;42(15):2575–2583.
- Simon U, Wehner T, Niemeyer F, et al. Simulation of the Bone Healing Process. In: Proceedings of ACUM 2006. Stuttgart; 2006.
- Shefelbine SJ, Augat P, Claes L, et al. Trabecular bone fracture healing simulation with finite element analysis and fuzzy logic. Journal of Biomechanics. 2005;38(12):2440–2450.
- Simon U, Augat P, Claes L. 3D fracture healing model can help to explain delayed healing with interfragmentary shear movement compared to axial movement. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering. Madrid; 2004.
- Simon U, Augat P, Claes L. Dynamical Simulation of the Fracture Healing Process Including Vascularity. In: 13th Conference of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics.Vol 4. Wroclaw, Poland; 2002.
- Ament C, Hofer EP. A fuzzy logic model of fracture healing. J Biomech. 2000;33(8):961–968.
- Claes LE, Heigele CA. Magnitudes of local stress and strain along bony surfaces predict the course and type of fracture healing. J Biomech. 1999;32(3):255–266.