Optimization of Cervical Ring Cage by Taguchi Philosophy

Cage subsidence into the vertebral body is still a major complication after implantation. This study optimized the cervical ring cage design to lower the stress on superior endplate in order to minimize the risk of subsidence, using Taguchi methods on a C5-C6 finite element model. The optimal design of the cage could function steadily in various clinical situations. Taguchi method provides an effective way to help find the best design of cages. With the inferior most nodes of C6 full constrained, a uniform axial compressive force of 110 N was applied on the superior-most nodes of C5 to simulate the physiological load (6). The von Mises stress on C6 superior endplate exerted by the cage was extracted to compare the effects of the different cage designs. Keywords—cervical ring cage, Taguchi philosophy, finite element model