RMS Foundation: Materials Testing and Research for Medical and Materials Technology Using LTM Testing Machines
Case Study
- Customer: RMS Foundation
- Location: Bettlach, Switzerland
- Industry: Medical
- Topic: Dynamic testing of implants: small loads and optical deformation tracking
RMS Foundation
The RMS Foundation: quality and expertise in materials testing for medical and materials technology
The RMS Foundation, headquartered in Bettlach, Switzerland, was founded in 1985 and has since developed into a renowned materials testing laboratory and research institute. Their focus is on medical and materials technology.
The RMS Foundation offers a wide range of services, including mechanical and material product and component testing, specific standardized and individual analyses, experimental investigations and consulting services. The interdisciplinary and interprofessional team of the RMS Foundation continuously conducts research and supports the transfer of knowledge in the following areas: functionality of implants on the skeleton, material evaluation, surfaces and tribology, bone replacement and bone regeneration as well as material-tissue interaction. With a focus on precision, reliability and quality, the non-profit organization has been a trusted partner in medical and materials technology for decades.
The task
Fatigue testing and optical deformation tracking
The load for fatigue testing of orthopedic implants covers a wide range of forces to be applied. This ranges from a few newtons in Fmin for some osteosynthesis plates to several kilonewtons in Fmax for hip implants. RMS also conducts research as a non-profit organization, including in the field of medical technology. The optical measurement technology DIC (digital image correlation) method is increasingly being used to analyze the deformation and movement of objects. The method is based on analyzing images of the object before and after a load is applied, in order to quantify displacements and deformations.
The ZwickRoell solution
LTM 1 up to LTM 10, up to 0.4 percent of Fmax, calibrated according to DAkkS
With the ability to calibrate machines from 0.4 percent of the maximum load, RMS can also test very small specimens with high reproducibility and accuracy using the LTM 1. The electric drive ensures low maintenance requirements and easy handling by the user. The ability to connect DIC devices via the digital input/output channel and to control the signals for image generation by programming the sequence plan in the testXpert Research testing software makes it possible to optically monitor the deformation of tested specimens. The changes in movement can be recognized at any point that can be reached with the cameras of the DIC device.
It is therefore not only possible to draw observations about the origin and cause of the fracture after the fracture has occurred, for example with the aid of an SEM (scanning electron microscope), but it is also possible to make statements about the exact behavior of the test specimen during the failure. Loads on large implants such as the knee or hip can also be covered with the LTM 10. ZwickRoell machines can be used to meet a wide range of testing requirements in the field of medical technology, from small osteosynthesis plates to dental implants and hip stems.
“The new LTM testing machines from ZwickRoell not only allow us to perform standard tests more efficiently, but also open up new possibilities in the research and development of medical technology products.”
Stefan Röthlisberger, RMS responsible for static and dynamic testing
The result
A wide range of applications, whether for standard tests or testing for research purposes
Thanks to ZwickRoell's testing machines, it is possible to implement standard tests more economically and also to drive forward new projects in research and development, including medical products. The objective of this research project was to compare two different fracture treatment strategies in dynamic loading. This makes it possible to track point distances at any number of locations and to simulate the behavior with regard to mechanical fatigue while simultaneously obtaining geometric data. This data can be used to assess which treatment leads to better biomechanical results.
