Session: Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering Celebration & Showcase

Paper Number: 148640

148640 - A Multiscale Computational and Experimental Framework to Elucidate the Biomechanics of Infant Growth 

Overview:
This CAREER proposal will provide a comprehensive understanding of joint growth and
development early in life when rapid development and ossification occur. There is currently a lack of
biomechanical quantification of growth and development because: (1) there is no generic musculoskeletal
infant model and (2) the lack of infant data in the literature. Infant’s spontaneous movements generate
forces that are constantly acting on the joints and can affect the morphology and development of soft bone.
Using experimental motion capture data, statistical shape modeling, and multi-scale musculoskeletal
mechanobiological models, we will be able to predict the complex adaptation of the joint to biomechanical
factors, thus providing a biomechanical basis for improved prevention and treatment of developmental
disorders. This CAREER proposal will pioneer the development of solutions that improve intervention and
outcomes of conditions such as scoliosis, spina bifida, clubfoot, and developmental dysplasia of the hip.
Based on previous research, the proposed framework will use the hip joint as a test system, which later can
be applied to other joints in the body, extending the proposed work beyond the 5-year period of
performance. The research is integrated with an educational plan to expose high school and undergraduate
students to the novel hip joint growth and development concepts using hands-on activities, 3D printing, and
3D visualization; to encourage high school students to pursue STEM careers, outreach to the public at large
and to educate the next generation of engineers.

Intellectual Merit:
The multiscale musculoskeletal mechanobiological infant model will transform how we study hip joint
growth early in life when bones are more malleable and joints are elastic. The model provides a noninvasive
three-dimensional approach to study the dynamics of human movements using biomechanical
parameters that are difficult or impossible to examine using physical experiments alone. The proposed
research will advance pediatric movement science and will uncover the underlying mechanisms involved
in the maturation of the hip joint during early development. Results from the proposed research will: (1)
Provide experimental data and computational models that can serve as the basis for developing innovative
solutions for infant developmental disorders; (2) Develop innovative tools to aid clinicians, pediatricians,
and physical therapists when managing joint disorders; (3) Identify factors that drive and regulate growth
early in life that may have long-term benefits for prevention of early arthritis. Each of these contributions
is significant given that joint disorders such as developmental dysplasia of the hip underlie around 29% of
all primary hip replacements in adults.

Broader Impacts:
The proposed work will immerse K-12 and undergraduate students into a highly multidisciplinary
environment, broadening their knowledge base by learning the fundamentals of growth and development.
For K-12 students, the experiences proposed will motivate them to pursue STEM careers by learning strong
theoretical concepts along with a hands-on approach using 3D printing techniques. Proposed outreach
activities are designed to: (1) interact with the scientific community and the public in collaboration with the
International Hip Dysplasia Institute and the annual International Hip Dysplasia Symposium and (2) to raise
awareness among the public on mechanical growth and development and developmental disabilities using
a podcast to interact with the online community. The podcast will invite engineers and clinicians to
communicate with parents and individuals affected by hip disorders. The proposed studies also provide a
platform for the enhancement of the Biomedical Systems curriculum at the PI’s institution. Bone and joint
deformities severely affect quality of life of the affected infants and their parents. This proposal will provide
a quantitative approach to subjective and inconsistent assessments when treating joint disorders, a major
complication in infant and adult patient care.

Presenting Author: Victor Huayamave Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Victor Huayamave, is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an expert in infant computational biomechanics. His research uses image segmentation, musculoskeletal model modeling, and finite element analysis to develop infant models to investigate pediatric orthopaedic pathologies such as developmental dysplasia of the hip and to improve the design non-surgical devices.

Authors:

Victor Huayamave Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University