Project description

The hydration behaviour of the disc is highly dependent on its volume and biochemical composition. The aim of this project is to measure the steady-state hydration profiles of spine segments for future research using various animal species. Data will be compared to human discs. Spinal level will also be compared; i.e. samples from lumbar, thoracic and cervical spines. Species: Human, Sheep, Pig and Cow.

Supervisors research focus

My program of research aims to understand the fundamental multiscale properties of normal, degenerated and injured spinal discs, and their mechanisms of failure, and to develop medical devices to treat these problems. Low back pain is ranked globally as the greatest contributor to the number of years lived with disability, and is the number one contributor to the non-fatal health burden in Australia. Injury to the disc can occur through awkward lifting postures or propagate over many years of repetitive lifting. In both cases, the disc can herniate (aka 'slipped disc') causing radiating nerve pain and disability. We use a range of equipment including a unique, world-leading six axis hexapod robot, a single axis materials fatigue testing system and a biaxial system for testing microscale portions of biological tissues. We also use scanning electron microscopy to visualise the micro-/nano-scale structure of disc tissue to understand mechanisms of failure.