Design of a mechanical loading device for studying the load dependent transport of solutes across articular cartilage in a micro-CT chamber

The present project focused on the design and development of a mechanical loading device that allows the convection studies in cartilage within a micro-CT chamber. A plastic-made device was designed and build in order to ensure the successful operation in the micro-CT. Besides that it allowed the monitoring of the tissue material properties by incorporating a load cell. The later experimental procedure indicated that 10% compression seems to have a beneficial effect on the solutes penetration across articular cartilage. Therefore a clinically applicable tool was developed that includes the convection in a diagnostic method for the first timeBMEBioMechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin