Simulation of the effects of electric and magnetic loadings on internal bone remodeling

Abstract

Objective: During recent years, a great deal of research has been done for finding methods to prevent, diagnose and heal serious diseases of bone such as osteoporosis. Among the methods proposed, exogenous mechanical, thermal, electric and magnetic stimulation have been of more interest due to the noninvasiveness and efficiency beside costeffectiveness. In fact, it is necessary to obtain the most efficacious magnitude, frequency range and waveshape of electromagnetic fields to be used in healing bone diseases. But this matter has not been of much attention in the investigations. Modeling is an important step in understanding how bone responds to the external loadings. Much work has been done on developing models considering different properties of bone and its behavior under mechanical loadings. However, just a few researchers have included the effects of electric and magnetic loadings in their models. Methods: In this paper, the thermo-piezo-electro-magnetoelastic model of bone has been used and the effects of electric and magnetic fields with various magnitudes, types and frequencies on the existent models, have been evaluated through simulation. Result: It is shown that although the model can illustrate the effects of electric and magnetic loading magnitude alterations and various electric durations, it cannot respond appropriately to the alternating frequencies of sinusoidal waveform. Conclusion: This model should be modified to respond to alternations of electromagnetic field frequencies. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.