Neurospine Biomechanics Lab

Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia
What the facility does

Mechanical testing and simulation

Areas of expertise

The Neurospine Biomechanics Laboratory in the Mechatronic Systems Engineering Program at Simon Fraser University was established with the primary objective to develop tools to prevent and manage neurospine injuries and diseases. In pursuing this goal the lab aims to 1) educate students in performing independent, high-quality biomechanics research, 2) apply mechanical engineering principles to characterize the mechanisms of neurospine injury, 3) apply mechanical theories to develop patient specific models of neurospine injury, and 4) design and analyze injury prevention devices to optimize their performance and develop new injury prevention and treatment strategies. The Neurospine Biomechanics Laboratory works closely with surgeons at Vancouver General Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco to guide our research to clinically relevant problems. Our laboratory also works with accident reconstruction experts to advance injury analysis techniques and to mechanically evaluate injury prevention devices.

Research services

Mechanical testing, modeling, Simulation, injury analysis, failure analysis, device testing

Sectors of application
  • Healthcare and social services
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Professional and technical services (including legal services, architecture, engineering)

Specialized Lab

Equipment

Function

Mechanical Test Facility

Instron E10000 Mechanical Test System

Axial, torsion mechanical test system.

 

Bose ElectroForce ELF 3200 Test Bench

High accuracy and resolution axial or biaxial mechanical test system for compliant materials.

 

Qualisys Optical Tracking System

High resolution optical tracking system for localized deformation or whole body motion capture.

Simulation Centre

Mimics

Advanced 3D reconstruction from medical image data (MRI, CT)

 

Madymo

Rigid body dynamic software calibrated for use in automotive simulations, falls and impacts resulting in human injury.

 

Abaqus

Finite element modelling of complex materials.

Title

URL

Carolyn Sparrey 

http://www.sfu.ca/~csparrey/