title: Optimisation of the mechanical and handling properties of an injectable calcium phosphate cement.
abstract: Calcium phosphate cements have the potential to be successful in minimally invasive surgical techniques, like that of vertebroplasty, due to their ability to be injected into a specific bone cavity. These bone cements set to produce a material similar to that of the natural mineral component in bone. Due to the ceramic nature of these materials they are highly brittle and it has been found that they are difficult to inject. This study was carried out to determine the factors that have the greatest effect on the mechanical and handling properties of an apatitic calcium phosphate cement with the use of a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach. The properties of the cement were predominantly influenced by the liquid:powder ratio and weight percent of di-sodium hydrogen phosphate within the liquid phase. An optimum cement composition was hypothesised and tested. The mechanical properties of the optimised cement were within the clinical range for vertebroplasty, however, the handling properties still require improvement.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002138:Calibration; D019245:Compressive Strength; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate