TThe Biomechanics Lab is located in Medical Center North on Vanderbilt’s Medical Center Campus. Receiving support from Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery Departments, this academic research lab supports physicians in their pursuit of biomechanics research in addition to pursuing independent research and development projects.

LAB RESOURCES:

Testing Systems:
To accommodate the wide variety of research projects, the lab is equipped with several mechanical testing machines.

MTS Bionix 858
This full size, floor mounted servohydraulic test system can perform testing in compression, tension, axial rotation, and torsion, simulating physiologic and other actual forces and motions. Integrated with a data acquisition system, this system can be configured to fit a wide variety of testing needs.

6DOF Spine Simulator
The Spine Simulator (SpineSim), custom-designed at Vanderbilt University, provides a multi-axial testing environment to conduct in vitro spine experiments. Physiological movements of the spine are accurately represented by this testing device, and supporting components can be tailored to fit various experimental protocols, such as the addition of follower load. Testing parameters of the SpineSim can be changed to accommodate all spine segments, from cervical to lumbar. Load-displacement curves are measured automatically using data acquisition software, and motion capture data is available to further enhance the scope of projects.

MicronTracker, Claron Technology
MicronTrackers use real-time stereoscopic vision to detect and track the pose (location and orientation) of specially marked objects.

Software Support:

Data Acquisition: National Instruments LabVIEW
National Instruments LabVIEW is a graphical measurement and automation application development environment. Rapid data acquisition and analysis, instrument control, and data presentation solutions are facilitated through available software and hardware components. Libraries for processing measurement analysis and digital signals, generating reports, displaying 3D plots, and calling external code through ActiveX and DLLs are also available.

Development Support:

3D CAD: SolidWorks
The standard in 3D mechanical design software, SolidWorks offers unmatched 2D and 3D design capabilities, performance, and ease-of-use.

Z-Printer 310
The ZPrinter 310 System creates physical models directly from digital data in hours instead of days. The System is fast, versatile and simple, allowing engineers to produce a range of concept models and functional test parts quickly and inexpensively.

 Contact us!

Vanderbilt Biomechanics
Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation and Department of Neurological Surgery
1161 21st Avenue South
T4225 Medical Center North
Nashville, TN 37232-8774

Taya Furmanski
615-322-7184
taya.k.furmanski@vanderbilt.edu