Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, March 7:

Researchers at the SOA University, drawn from the diverse fields of medicine, dental surgery and engineering, have been focusing on designing, development and trimageial of orthopedic implants, the vice-chancellor, Prof RP Mohanty said.

The research work being undertaken presently at the Centre of Biomechanical Science, set up by the university in July 2012, also included strength analysis of bones and development of numerical models to analyse the movement of human joints, he said while speaking at the two-day National Conference of Bio-Mechanical Science (NCBMS) which kicked off at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital on Friday.

The University decided to set up the centre after realizing the importance of bio-mechanics as a subject of intense need which offered ample scope for interdisciplinary and collaborative research, Prof Mohanty said.

The conference was inaugurated by chairman of the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), BKPatnaik who emphasized on the need to synthesise knowledge in different fields for the greater good of mankind. He congratulated the SOA University on its decision to bring the faculties of engineering and medicine together for this purpose.

Vinay Katiyar, Professor of Mathematics at IIT, Roorkee and chairman of Indian Society of Bio-Mechanics, speaking as the guest of honour on the occasion, stressed on academia-industry interaction for further growth of this emerging area.

The conference, its theme being “Bio-Medical Sciences: Emerging Research Domain”, has been organized in collaboration with the Indian Society of Bio-Mechanics, Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering and National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai.

Elaborating on the work being done at the Centre of Bio-Mechanical Science, the Vice-Chancellor said, “Its thrust areas included design, development and testing of orthopedic implants, development of numerical models to analyse movement of human joints, strength analysis of bones and clinical trials to analyse knee function in order to characterize normal pathological and total knee replacement.”

Besides, he said, the researchers were also working with spinal surgeons to understand the biomechanics of spinal instrumentation and spinal constructs and investigating into head injuries in infants as also the human body response to blunt and sharp impacts.

Orthopedicians, dental surgeons, engineers, scientists, ergonomists, experts in sports medicine and physiotherapists from within and outside the state are attending the conference.

Among others, Prof DK Ray, Director of Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital and Prof RK Mishra, Dean of Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) also spoke.

Prof Jagannath Sahoo, head of department of Orthopedics at the IMS and Sum Hospital and chairman of the organizing committee, Prof Harish Das, co-chairman and Prof Amiya Dash, convener of the committee respectively, were present.