The specification and design of a substitute medial collateral ligament

In this paper attempts are made to define the properties necessary for a substitute medial collateral ligament (MCL). The boundaries that envelope the desired load-extension curve of the MCL are extracted from existing research results and are complemented by in vivo experiments on a knee analyzer. A substitute MCL is designed, manufactured, and tested. The element mimics the action of the natural tissue and it produces a load-extension curve that fits within the prescribed boundaries. Proposals for the fixation design and the further testing of the substitute ligament are made. The possibilities for the application of the material as a substitute for other ligaments are discussed.