Fully automated torso test setup

A novel fully automated testing system for full torso testing.

As our goal is to improve patient care in spine surgery we need to test surgical techniques as realistically as possible. Previous tests were often done in single spine segments limiting the physiological loading of the segment. As the spine is a chain of vertebras, linked by intervertebral discs, its strength depends on the weakest link, so it should be tested as a complete unit.

A previous torso-testing system was static, bending the torso to full flexion and holding it in place. Using this system, we confirmed the importance of full-spine analysis compared to single-segment tests. However, being static, it could not capture motion, highlighting the need for an improved setup.

The newly designed setup is fully automated and can apply various motion patterns, including flexion and extension, as well as axial compression at the shoulders. The system is built radiolucent which allows for standard X-ray shots as practiced by clinicians in the operational room which helps to understand the nature of the spine. 

As the presented system is fully automated it has several advantages, one of them being that the motion and therefore the loading of the torso is repeatable and consistent. Therefore, the reliability and accuracy of the test increases while the testing time and the human error aspect of testing decrease. Since we test a full torso we do not only gain insight into the treated segment but also to the adjacent segments which helps to understand the biomechanics better and do research on multilevel effects. 

This novel fully automated setup overcomes the limitations of single-segment and static tests, providing comprehensive insights into spinal biomechanics and surgical technique evaluation while greatly enhancing testing reliability and efficiency.