The BioRobotics Core offers facilities and expertise for mechanical testing of musculoskeletal structures and biomaterials through an organizational structure of shared equipment and resources. The Core provides expertise in material testing using devices currently located in BME as well as several simVITRO based robotic testing systems.
In addition, we will assist in data management for user experiments including, data collection, data analysis, and data archiving. The Core supports testing of tissues, joints and multi-articular units, such as foot or spine segments. Suitable applications include testing of ligaments, tendons, bone, cartilage, implants, orthotics, limbs, etc.
simVITRO Testing
Let the Cleveland Clinic provide state of the art orthopaedic biomechanical testing to answer the clinical questions you are asking. With over a decade of experience in this field, the BioRobotics lab can provide simVITRO testing services using simVITRO software and one of their several musculoskeletal simulators.

Universal Musculoskeletal Simulator
- Rotopod R2000
- Robotic device for 6-degree of freedom testing. Load capacity 2000 N, 1000 Nm.
- 5 tendon actuators (Parker and Harmonic Drive Systems)
- Used to replicate muscle forces up to 4000 N.
- MicroScribe G2L Digitizing System
- Static coordinate measurement and surface digitization
- Force Plate (Bertec)
- 6-axis Force Plate to measure ground reaction forces.
- Rotary Stage
- Supplementary robotic device to allow for greater flexion/extension range of motion when used in conjunction with the Rotopod R2000

Neuromusculoskeletal Simulator
• Kuka-KR16 Robot
- Robotic device for 6-degree of freedom spine testing. Payload 16 kg.
- Uniaxial electromechanical device for high-precision low-speed material testing.
Uniaxial & Biaxial Testing of Biomaterials and Medical Devices
These services can be used to provide insight into; tissue engineering, medical devices, surgical techniques, disease pathologies, orthopaedics, and fracture healing and treatment
Capabilities
Structural and material properties of tissues and synthetic materials can be acquired through uniaxial and biaxial biomechanical testing. Understanding of these parameteres for tissues lined stents provide for a longer lasting design.
Biomechanical Phenotyping of Transgenic Animal Models
Biomechanical phenotyping of transgenic animals allows for quanitification and comparision of functional changes in connective tissues (bone, tendon, skin)
Capabilities
Structural and material properties of tissues and synthetic materials can be acquired through uniaxial and biaxial biomechanical testing. Understanding of these parameteres for tissues lined stents provide for a longer lasting design.
BioRobotics Core Equipment
The state of the art equipment available to the BioRobotics Core is a big component to the success of the lab and the projects it’s involved with. All of the devices that we are trained to use allows us to be proficient in the services we offer. In addition to the equipment and devices listed below, we also are capable of developing and purchasing new equipment to suit your needs.