About
Cagri
Yenigun
Postgraduate Researcher
UCD
Cagri Yenigun is a PhD researcher at I-Form, based at University College Dublin (UCD), focusing on the biomechanical analysis of additively manufactured medical implants. He holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU). Before beginning his postgraduate research, he gained industry experience in laboratory automation, refrigeration systems, and orthopaedic implants in Ankara, Türkiye, and Illinois, USA. His current research focuses on the in-silico evaluation of additively manufactured metal orthopaedic implants, with a particular emphasis on spinal implants.
Technical Summary
Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of customised implants tailored to individual medical needs. These implants offer several advantages, including adjustable stiffness, increased contact surface area, and enhanced osseointegration through porous structures and surface features. This research focuses on evaluating the biomechanical performance of patient-specific spinal cages produced using AM, with an emphasis on simulation and analysis through finite element models (FEMs). The study investigates the influence of varying design parameters—such as stiffness, strength, and load distribution—on implant performance.
While AM allows for high customisability, robust and practical evaluation methods are essential to accurately predict implant performance. This requires a holistic consideration of all end-user (patient) factors. Each customised implant is ultimately applied in a unique surgical context, where surgical technique, implant design, and patient-specific anatomy collectively influence outcomes. Poor mechanical performance can result in implant failure or post-operative complications.
The central challenge of this research lies in optimising design parameters to achieve an ideal balance between biomechanical performance and surgical success.