A Novel Elastic Squeeze Film Total Hip Replacement

Abstract

This paper describes a new approach to the design of total hip replacements with the goal of enhancing lubrication and reducing wear. Elastic elements and ellipsoidal cup surface geometry are incorporated into the new design to promote and enhance ‘squeeze-film’ action over ‘wedge-film’ action employed in conventional artificial hip joints. Employing an established finite element lubrication model with a realistic gait cycle and realistic ball-to-cup clearance specifications, it is found that significantly larger minimum film thicknesses and significantly smaller maximum film pressures are predicted over the stance-phase portion of the gait cycle when compared with conventional designs.