Title: A case study comparison of alternative meta-modelling methods related to nanoenabled surgical instrument design

Authors: Milton E. Aguirre, Mary Frecker, Harriet Black Nembhard

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 314 Leonard Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ' Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 326 Leonard Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 310 Leonard Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Abstract: We present an approach for modelling a deterministic simulation process using design of experiments. Five design of experiments models – Central Composite Design (CCD), Face-Centered Central Composite Design (FC-CCD), Box-Behnken Design (BBD), 3^κ Factorial Design and Latin Hypercube Design (LHD) – are evaluated to identify the regions of predictability for modelling the performance of a 1.0 mm multifunctional forceps-scissors surgical instrument for minimally invasive surgery. The objective is to develop metamodels to accurately and efficiently evaluate surgical tool performance, and to determine the feasibility of employing design of experiments in similar problems. The instrument chosen for this framework was selected because of its potentially broad application in surgical procedures. Through this case study we found that the bending stress metamodels had an accuracy of ±5%. On the other hand, the models approximating blocked forces are less accurate, indicating that there is much more curvature in the relationship between these blocked force responses and design variables.

Keywords: design of experiments; DOE; RSM; response surface methodology; deterministic simulation; metamodelling; minimally invasive surgery; nanoenabled surgical instruments; instrument design; nanotechnology; bending stress; blocked force; nanoparticulates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2008.022563

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2008 Vol.2 No.4, pp.375 - 405

Published online: 15 Jan 2009 *

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