Daniela Mini
Project title
Computationally efficient method to analyse the worst-case scenario of a fixation device for a proximal humerus fracture
Supervisors
Professor Mark Taylor, Medical Device Research Institute, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University
Professor Karen Reynolds, Medical Device Research Institute, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University
Daniela graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, and during her master's degree she focused on the study of orthopaedic medical devices, implementing her knowledge on finite element analysis and computational modelling. During her studies, she had the opportunity to develop her master's thesis at Flinders University as a visiting research student. Her project focused on analysing knee ligament laxity using a computational model and comparing the results with experiments already performed on the hexapod machine.
Daniela is very interested in understanding how to solve biomechanical problems through a computational approach, so after her excellent experience in Australia, she decided to apply for a PhD at Flinders University to improve her computational and biomechanical skills.
Daniela's PhD focuses on the analysis of fixation plates for proximal humerus fracture. In particular, her research aims to identify, through the development of an advanced computational model, the worst condition that leads this type of device to failure.
Her project is in collaboration with Austofix, a medical device company based in Adelaide which specialises in the design and manufacture of fracture fixation devices.