In this section
Based at Imperial's White City Campus, we are a research group with a focus on Spine Biomechanics. We use a range of tools to better understanding in the areas of spinal injury, spinal deformity and spinal surgery.
Our lab has state-of-the-art ex vivo testing capabilities, including bespoke testing rigs, a 6 DOF robot arm, a C-arm, pressure needles, water baths, and high-speed X-ray. We also have access to advanced imaging technologies, including micro-CT, 9.4T MRI, and microscopy.
We use novel computational approaches (finite element modelling, msk modelling, digital volume correlation (DVC), machine learning) to develop workflows to provide clinicians with information to inform patient treatment strategies, to better predict risk of injury, and to assess scoliosis brace designs.
We collaborate globally, with ongoing projects with colleagues in New Zealand, USA, Portugal, South Africa, Germany, Australia, Sri Lanka and India.
You can explore our recent publications below.
@article{Slater:2025:10.1002/jsp2.70154,
author = {Slater, TD and Raftery, KA and van, Heeswijk VM and Thambyah, A and Newell, N},
doi = {10.1002/jsp2.70154},
journal = {JOR Spine},
title = {A multiscale ex vivo method to investigate intervertebral disc strain and fiber recruitment in anterolateral bending using 9.4T MRI-DVC and DIC microscopy},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70154},
volume = {8},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Study DesignEx vivo, multiscale analysis of disc strain using ultrahigh-field MRI-based digital volume correlation (MRI-DVC) and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between three-dimensional strain distributions and collagen fiber recruitment in porcine cervical intervertebral discs under flexion and lateral bending.Summary of Background DataFlexion combined with lateral bending is often linked to disc herniation, yet the strain patterns and fiber-level changes in the annulus fibrosus are not well understood. Multiscale characterization is essential to uncovering failure mechanisms.MethodsFour porcine cervical motion segments were scanned in neutral and anterolaterally (AL)-bent postures using 9.4T MRI, with 3D strains calculated via DVC. Samples were sectioned and imaged with DIC microscopy to quantify collagen fiber recruitment based on fiber crimp patterns, using a crimp grading scale (0 = fully straight, 1 = semi-crimped, 2 = uncrimped).ResultsMRI-DVC revealed an inhomogeneous strain distribution in AL-bent discs, with higher magnitudes compared to the neutral discs. Fiber uncrimping was greater in the AL-bent discs (mean crimp grade: 0.44, mostly straight) compared with the neutral discs (1.56, predominantly crimped). Across the bending axis, the anterior-right region exhibited higher strains than the posterior-left (minimum principal strain ~25% greater), which correlated with the presence of sequential lamellae having straight and fully-crimped fibers. A greater amount of fiber uncrimping was observed in the posterior-left than anterior-right disc regions.ConclusionThis study confirms the suitability of MRI-DVC combined with DIC microscopy for relating macroscopic strains to microscopic fiber crimp, and for identifying regions of high strain across multiple length scales. Under AL-bending, this methodology revealed that the disc's posterior region exhibited taut fi
AU - Slater,TD
AU - Raftery,KA
AU - van,Heeswijk VM
AU - Thambyah,A
AU - Newell,N
DO - 10.1002/jsp2.70154
PY - 2025///
SN - 2572-1143
TI - A multiscale ex vivo method to investigate intervertebral disc strain and fiber recruitment in anterolateral bending using 9.4T MRI-DVC and DIC microscopy
T2 - JOR Spine
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70154
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70154
VL - 8
ER -