Intelligent Artificial Joint and Regeneration Problems in Articular Joints

Taking into account the increasing need to artificial joints for in-vitro use, this paper presents a layout of a challenge leading to detail analyzing of regeneration problems of articular joint and gives a step-by-step plan for designing a novel intelligent artificial joint. This paper has been prepared based on the objective of European Project MTKD-CT-2004-517226 to represent the methodology and goal of the idea described in and make possible wider discussion on this subject for further developments during the realization. 1. Reason of research Gdansk University of Technology, as the coordinator, in cooperation with other European universities: Graz University of Technology, Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatology Silesian Medical Academy in Sosnowiec, Clinic for Orthopaedics and Sportorthopaedics of the Tech. University Munich, University of Applied Sciences, Giessen-Friedberg, Institute for Fluid Mechanics, University of Karlsruhe and Central Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulm submitted a ToK proposal to the European Commission on May 2004 which was entitled “Bio and Slide Bearings, their Lubrication by Non-Newtonian Oils and Application in Non-Conventional Systems". The proposal was submitted under Sixth Framework Programme, with Call Identifier: FP6-2003-No.517226, and finally is accepted as the Contract MTKD-CT-2004-517226. The proposal after negotiation is confirmed to financing from 2005 to 2008 due to high-level marks for scientific, technological, socioeconomic and European impact issues, as well as management aspects. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the present decade the bone and joint decade. In 1988 in USA the estimated total cost of osteoarthrosis was $54.6 billion. Annually in Germany more than 30 million medical treatments and more than 50 million days of temporary or permanent disablement, are due to the diseases of cartilage and bone. It is not surprising that the number of human joint diseases shows an exponential increase over the last years in Europe. In last ten years in European Union the number of bone fractures caused by the osteoarthritis increased twofold. More than 100000 total hip or knee joints are implanted during one year in Germany. Within ten years 5% of them fail by aseptic loosening. It can be estimated that yearly 2.5 million joint fractures occur worldwide. Only in 2000 in EU 414000 joint fractures was recorded. The increase in number of joint fractures in EU, anticipated on the ground of demographic development in the next 50 years, would reach about one million. 2. State of knowledge The tissue articular joint regeneration and engineering of cartilage implants may open a new path for the surgical treatment of joint surface defect. Autologous chondrocyte