Design optimization of a xenogeneic bone plate and screws using the Taguchi and finite element methods

This paper studies the influence of design factors on a xenogeneic bone plate and screws for fractured bone fusion in a numerical animal model for experiment via simulation. A canine ulna was the fractured bone in the numerical animal model, and an equine tibia was the xenogeneic bone source. Finite element models of the canine ulna, the bone plate, and the bone screws were constructed for simulation. Five design factors were studied to determine their influences on fractured bone fusion. The levels for each design factor were determined, and an orthogonal array table was constructed. A simulation was performed according to the orthogonal array table. Optimized design factors for the xenogeneic bone plate and screws were proposed using the Taguchi method. The proposed bone plate and screws resulted in stable initial fixation strength and promoted fractured bone fusion. The proposed bone plate and screws provide very useful information with respect to the minimum sizes of the bone plate and screws for clinical application.