Abstract

This contribution is aimed at the detailed understanding of lubrication mechanisms within total knee replacement. While Part I is focused on the experimental investigation, Part II deals with the development of a predictive numerical model. Here, a knee simulator was used for direct optical observation of the contacts between a metal femoral and a transparent polymer components. Transient dynamic conditions were applied. Mimicked synovial fluids with fluorescently labelled constituents were used as the test lubricants. The results showed that gamma-globulin forms thin boundary lubricating film, being reinforced by the interaction of phospholipids and hyaluronic acid. Further development of lubricating film is attributed to albumin layering. Based on the results, a novel lubrication model of the knee implant is proposed.