Student Projects
Clinical investigation of the pathophysiology and reciprocal relationships between progressive disc degeneration and spinal (mal-) alignment
Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (LDD) is estimated to affect 400M individuals worldwide annually, which causes pain and disability for the patients affected by it [1]. Continuous localized, and structural degeneration on multiple intervertebral disc (IVD) levels can progress to accumulated macroscopic deformities, manifesting in abnormal spinal curvatures, also known as Adult Spinal Deformities (ASD). LDD and spinal alignment are hypothesized to be closely interrelated, with specific alignment parameters showing mutual correlations with the degree of LDD [2]. Through analyzing longitudinal data - including X-ray-derived biplanar alignment parameters and MRI-based Pfirrmann grading - this study aims to identify extensive patterns between alignment characteristics and the individual degenerative state of lumbar IVDs. Such insights could improve our understanding of degenerative cascades and influence decision making in clinical treatment approaches by identifying alignment profiles at higher risk for degeneration. The proposed study includes a clinical cohort of degenerative lumbar back pain patients who were treated conservatively, and followed up over a period of 3-5 years, before eventually undergoing surgery at Schulthess Clinic Zurich. This project is jointly supervised by an interdisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians of ETH Zurich and Schulthess clinic Zurich, which offers insights into fundamental spinal research, as well as daily clinical practice. Your tasks will include data annotation, model development, and collaborative discussions of results, providing a comprehensive experience in interdisciplinary research. This project offers an excellent opportunity to engage in impactful research at the intersection of biomechanics, clinical practice, and data-driven modeling.
Keywords
Spinal Alignment, Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Adult Spinal Deformity, Clinical Research, Longitudinal Study
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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-12-13 , Earliest start: 2025-02-01
Organization Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
Hosts Rieger Florian
Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology
Pre-clinical mechanical evaluation of a novel spinal implant
Background: Lower back pain is one of the most prevalent health issues in Switzerland, with severe socio-economic consequences and a leading cause of reduced work performance. Approximately 20% of spinal fusion surgeries performed using off-the-shelf implants result in the surgical outcome being compromised post-operatively, often requiring one or more revision surgeries to address the associated pain. The Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology has recently developed a novel spinal implant using topology optimization, which is currently undergoing a feasibility study for clinical applications. We are seeking a master’s student who is passionate about medical devices and mechanical design and testing to join us for a semester project or master thesis. In this role, you will gain insight into the spinal surgery process, receive input from surgeons, and contribute to the mechanical design and testing of the implant. Objectives: • Perform the CT scan on animal vertebrae • Evaluate the influence of implant placement/location variability • Mechanical testing on the implant • Develop surgical tools if needed Your Profile: • Strong knowledge in mechanical design and drawing skills. • Hands-on and detail-oriented. • Experience with SolidWorks or Fusion 360, as well as Python or Matlab. Timeframe: Spring semester in 2025
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Semester Project , Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-11-20 , Earliest start: 2025-01-01 , Latest end: 2025-08-31
Organization Bone Pathologies and Treatment
Hosts Du Xiaoyu
Topics Medical and Health Sciences
Master thesis project - Association between spinal loads and dynamic postural changes in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis during forward flexion
Understanding the differences in spine kinematics between patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and those with healthy spines, along with the implications for spinal loading, could shed light on the pathophysiology of this disease and contribute to the development of more effective treatment and rehabilitation strategies. To estimate spinal loads, a novel full-body musculoskeletal model developed in AnyBody Modeling System will be used. This model will be customized to reflect subject-specific spinal alignment and will be driven by kinematic data obtained from in vivo motion-capture measurements. Inverse dynamics simulations of patient-specific spinal postures and forward flexion trials will be performed to estimate the corresponding loads.
Keywords
Spine biomechanics, musculoskeletal modeling, motion capture, movement analysis, lumbar spinal stenosis, functional evaluation
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Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-10-21 , Earliest start: 2024-10-13 , Latest end: 2025-04-30
Organization Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
Hosts Caimi Alice
Topics Medical and Health Sciences
Master thesis project - Biomechanical relationships between spinal loads and kinematic parameters in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis during walking
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or cauda equina. Patients with LSS often exhibit altered spinal kinematics and compensatory movement patterns, which can increase paraspinal muscle activity and segmental loads. This study aims to estimate the spinal loads in LSS patients using an advanced full-body musculoskeletal model within the AnyBody Modeling System, incorporating patient-specific motion-capture data. Gaining a deeper understanding of the differences in spinal kinematics between LSS patients and healthy individuals, and their effects on spinal loading, could inform more effective treatment and rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords
Spine biomechanics, musculoskeletal multi-body modeling, inverse dynamics simulation, motion capture, computational study, gait
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Master Thesis
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Published since: 2024-10-10 , Earliest start: 2024-12-01 , Latest end: 2025-06-30
Organization Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
Hosts Caimi Alice
Topics Engineering and Technology
Design customized molds for manufacturing a novel joint implant and mechanical evaluation
The Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology has recently developed a novel joint implant and is undergoing optimization of the manufacturing process. We are looking for a master's student who is passionate about medical devices and mechanical design to join us for a semester project. Objectives: • Design different molds for material casting using SolidWorks or Fusion 360. • Optimize implant design using matlab or Python. • Mechanical testing of the implant including fatigue test. Your Profile: • Strong knowledge in mechanical design and drawing skills. • Hands-on and detail-oriented. • Experience with SolidWorks or Fusion 360, as well as Python or Matlab.
Keywords
mechanical design, implant, medical device, mold casting, SolidWorks, mechanical testing
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Semester Project , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-09-09 , Earliest start: 2024-09-09 , Latest end: 2024-12-31
Organization Bone Pathologies and Treatment
Hosts Du Xiaoyu
Topics Engineering and Technology
Optimize Hydrogel Performance for Cartilage Replacement
The Laboratory of Orthopedic Technology at ETH Zurich is currently optimizing the manufacturing process for a novel joint implant. We are looking for a master's student who is passionate about medical devices and polymer science to join our team for a semester project or master's thesis. Project Focus: The selected candidate will work on optimizing the performance of a hydrogel material that is a key component of the cartilage replacement implant. The project will involve: • Investigating polymer synthesis and formulation techniques to enhance hydrogel performance. • Developing testing protocols to evaluate the hydrogel’s effectiveness in mimicking natural cartilage behavior.
Keywords
Hydrogel, Polymer, Chemistry, Cartilage, Joint, Medical device
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Semester Project , Master Thesis , ETH Zurich (ETHZ)
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Published since: 2024-09-09 , Earliest start: 2024-09-10 , Latest end: 2025-03-31
Organization Bone Pathologies and Treatment
Hosts Du Xiaoyu
Topics Chemistry