Fluid pressure measurement in lacunocanalicular network of trabeculae using MEMS based micro-pressure transducer

The intraosseous pressure generation and fluid flow in lacunocanalicular network of trabeculae could be important to the remodeling process of cancellous bone. Due to the technical difficulty, experimental information about the amount of intraosseous pressure generation in lacunocanalicular network of trabeculae is never measured. In this study, the maximum intraosseous pressure generation in micro-trabecular specimens within the elastic range was measured in vitro using a specially designed micro-experimental setup representing the most restrictive fluid flow boundaries around microscopic bovine vertebral trabecular specimens. Then, a quasi-static loading (9 mu m/min) was applied up to the strain of 0.4 % with measuring intraosseous pressure generations in the undrained and drained conditions. 49.2 +/- 4.45 K.Pa of intraosseous pressure generation at the 0.4% strain was found in the undrained condition. In contrast, no intraosseous pressure generation was measured in the drained condition. The result could let us know the amount of a possible maximum intraosseous pressure generation in lacunocanalicular network of trabeculae within the elastic range.