Finite element analysis of an elastomeric artificial disc in lumbar spine

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to make a parametric design of an intervertebral artificial lumbar disc using FE software (ANSYS) in APDL language (ANSYS parametric design language) and then use that software to study the structural response of the intervertebral disc in different situations. First of all the functions of the real intervertebral disc and its structure are going to be exposed, then continue with the explanation of the intervertebral artificial disc and its parameters. After the explanation modified artificial disc with thicker brim inlay is going to be analyzed under different loads studying its response. Then the disc is going to be inserted in the intervertebral space (L4-L5) of a model of the lumbar spine and it is going to be analyzed under a normal and a combined (vertical and horizontal) load state in two different positions, the correct one and a wrong one.