Center for Orthopedic Research, Innovation and Training (CORIT Lab)

Introduction

The staff and Orthopaedic faculty working at the Center for Orthopaedic Research, Innovation and Training (CORIT) are committed to discovering solutions to orthopedic problems and providing a venue to develop medical students, surgical trainees and Orthopaedic faculty into leaders in knowledge and practice within this specialty. Through this commitment, they serve the wider orthopedic community in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and injury. This research center and its staff of engineers and scientists are part of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT’s McGovern School of Medicine. The center is located in the same building as the Department’s Outpatient clinics and adjoins a specialty hospital with operating facilities dedicated to Orthopedic Surgery.

CORIT provides access for UT students, residents, fellows and faculty to an array of investigational tools for research studies in orthopedics. Capabilities include

  • Customizable mechanical simulators and computational tools,
  • 3D motion capture and analysis,
  • Computer-assisted and robotic surgical training,
  • Facilities dedicated to the study of implant performance, prosthetic joint infection and the biology of implant/bone interfaces
  • Investigations in both animal and cadaveric models.

Combining these technologies with in-depth surgical knowledge, surgeons and researchers have developed new methods for the analysis of musculoskeletal function and characterization of orthopedic device performance. They are committed to providing unique insights and developing strategies that maximize the quality and value of the research studies performed within the Center.

The core mission of the research center is to advance outcomes in joint replacement through the collaborative partnership of the joint surgeons and research staff within the UT Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The Center is presently focusing its efforts in the following areas:

  1. Development and Evaluation of New Technologies in Joint Replacement
    • Robotics; Navigation; Imaging; 3D printing.
  2. Prevention and Treatment of Periprosthetic Fractures
    • Classification and Modeling of Periprosthetic Fractures; Experimental Simulation of Alternative Treatment Strategies; Strategies for Fracture Prevention.
  3. Harnessing Technology to Accelerate Acquisition of Surgical Skills
    • Surgical Training; Skill Measurement and Analysis; Curriculum Development and Validation; VR and AR Simulation
  4. Prevention and Treatment of Orthopedic Infections
    • Intra- and Perioperative Measures; Smart Implants/Coatings; OR monitoring; Drug Delivery Devices; Detection Assays; Elimination of Biofilm
  5. Improving the Performance of Orthopedic Implants
    • Mechanical and Corrosion Resistance; Wear testing and Tribology; Computer and Experimental Simulation; Retrieval Collection and Analysis
  6. Optimizing Surgical Treatment of Developmental Hip Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)
    • Computer Modeling of DDH Patients; Computer Simulation of Alternative Surgical Procedures; Prediction of Optimal Bony Correction of bony anatomy via Periacetabular Acetabular Osteotomy (PAO)

 Development and Evaluation of New Technologies in Joint Replacement 

To maximize our combined efforts in the evaluation of new technologies, we are evaluating the role of alternative robotic surgical systems in joint replacement through a combination of:

  1. Clinical trials within our clinics and operating rooms
  2. Research studies involving cadaveric and computer-based simulations within our research facility
  3. Incorporation of robotic systems and associated software in surgeon training, pre-operative planning and patient selection.

Additional areas of clinical interest for new applications for robotic technology, include:

  1. Shoulder
  2. Periacetabular Osteotomy
  3. Femoro-acetabular impingement
  4. Foot and Ankle Surgery
  5. Spine surgery
  6. Bone tumor resection
  7. Trauma

A key component of these efforts will be collaboration with Industry through identification of opportunities for research, evaluation and innovation of new technologies. We are now exploring relationships with companies with an interest in partnering with us in tackling these challenging problems and delivering the promise of new innovations in musculo-skeletal medicine.

Recent Publications

  1. Frangie R. Wagstaff P.D., Han S., et al. The Length of Diaphyseal Contact of Tapered Fluted Stems is Highly Dependent on Canal Morphology. Journal of Arthroplasty, 2022 (Accepted)
  2. Han S., Rodriguez-Quintana D., Freedhand A., Mathis K., Boiwka A., Noble P. Contemporary Robotic Systems in Total Knee Arthroplasty-A Review of Accuracy and Outcomes. Orthopedic Clinics of North America, 2021, 52(2):83-92
  3. Han S., Patel R.V., Ismaily S.K., Jones H.L., Gold J.E., Noble P. Micromotion and Migration of Cementless Tibial Trays Under Functional Loading Conditions. Journal of Arthroplasty, 2021, 36(1):349-355
  4. Han S., Owens V., Patel R., Ismaily S., Melvyh H., Incavo S., Noble P. The Continuum of Hip Range of Motion: From Soft-Tissue Restriction to Bony Impingement. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2020, 38(8):1779-1786
  5. Delgadillo L., Jones H., Ismaily S., Han S., Noble P. How Flat is the Tibial Osteotomy in Total Knee Arthroplasty? Journal of Arthroplasty, 2020, 35(3): 870-876.
  6. Patel R., Han S., Lenherr C., Harris J., Noble P. Pelvic Tilt and Range of Motion in Hips with Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2020, 28(10): e427-e432. (*Patel R. and Han S. contribute equally)