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Abstract
The last decade has seen profound changes in the field of spinal
research. A predominantly “metal-driven” philosophy, in which
conventional implants have been considered the gold standard for
treatment, has been replaced with a more holistic approach considering
the interactions between medical devices and the biological host, with a
vision of eventually achieving tissue regeneration rather than
functional replacement. In this short talk, this shift in research
methodology will be illustrated with examples of past, present and
future projects at the Institute for Surgical Technology and
Biomechanics. This transition has mirrored the development of the former
Maurice E. Müller Institute for Biomechanics to a core element of the
ARTORG (ARTificial ORGan) Center for Biomedical Engineering Research.
Biography
Stephen Ferguson received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the
University of Toronto (Canada) in 1991 and was initially active as a
consulting engineer in the iron and steelmaking field. He realigned his
perspectives on the use of metal during his studies towards a Masters
degree from Queen’s University (Canada) in 1994, with a focus on
metallic and non-metallic implants for fracture fixation. His doctoral
research was completed as a collaborative project between Queen’s
University and the AO Research Institute in Davos. Following his PhD
degree in 2000, he moved to the University of Bern where he leads the
Biomechanics Division of the Institute for Surgical Technology and
Biomechanics and is Co-Director of the ARTORG Spinal Research Center.
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