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:2026:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311,
author = {Slater, TD and Choy, NY and Kibble, MJ and Newell, N},
doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311},
journal = {Journal of Biomechanics},
title = {Intradiscal pressurisation predicts intervertebral disc herniation: insights from a low-cost, open-source loading rig},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311},
volume = {202},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Ex vivo biomechanical research is essential for understanding disc herniation and developing spinal treatments. However, reproducing physiologically relevant multi-axis loading remains challenging, as commercial systems are costly or mechanically restrictive. Therefore, we developed a low-cost, open-source rig that integrates with standard hydraulic testing machines and adds flexion–extension up to 45 Nm.The rig was characterised under uniaxial, cyclic, and three degree of freedom loading to confirm accurate application of loads. The capability to apply prolonged cyclic loading, and combined flexion–compression to failure, for inducing disc herniation was evaluated using bovine tail discs. Specimens (n = 18) were instrumented with a pressure probe and initially compressed (0–100 N) to quantify intradiscal pressurisation capacity prior to cyclic loading (n = 9, 100,000 cycles) or flexion–compression to failure (n = 9).Rig characterisation confirmed precise load application: under 8 Nm flexion, off-axis moments were < 0.5 Nm, with RMS errors ≤ 2% for axial compression and rotation, and ≤ 7% for lateral bending. Loads were applied accurately up to 2 Hz, with reduced accuracy at 10 Hz. The rig successfully applied prolonged cyclic loading and ultimate flexion–compression to failure, reliably inducing herniation in bovine tail discs. The pressure–force slope strongly discriminated herniation status (AUC = 0.92, p < 0.001). Logistic regression estimated a 50% herniation probability at 0.0019 MPa N1, with herniation occurring in 92% of discs above this value versus 17% below.The open-source rig enables reproducible, physiologically relevant multi-axis loading for future herniation and spinal implant device testing. Intradiscal pressurisation was a predictor of herniation in bovine tail discs.
AU - Slater,TD
AU - Choy,NY
AU - Kibble,MJ
AU - Newell,N
DO - 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311
PY - 2026///
SN - 0021-9290
TI - Intradiscal pressurisation predicts intervertebral disc herniation: insights from a low-cost, open-source loading rig
T2 - Journal of Biomechanics
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113311
VL - 202
ER -