Douglas W. Van Citters

Overview

Douglas Van Citters is interim dean and professor of engineering at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. A musculoskeletal scientist and expert on the materials, mechanics, and design of artificial joints, Van Citters brings decades of experience and a passionate commitment to Dartmouth Engineering's human-centered approach to education, research, and entrepreneurship. His lab, the Dartmouth Biomedical Engineering Center for Orthopaedics (DBEC), focuses on musculoskeletal biomaterials, biomechanics, tribology, and device design research and houses one of the largest IRB-approved retrieval programs in the world with over 23,000 artificial joints in its collection. His team holds over a dozen U.S. patents, with more pending. As a teacher-scholar, Van Citters has earned numerous recognitions, including the Woodhouse Excellence in Teaching Award in 2019 and the Outstanding Service Award for Faculty for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Van Citters earned his bachelor of arts, bachelor of engineering, master of science, and PhD in engineering sciences from Dartmouth. He joined the Dartmouth faculty in 2007, and over the years, served in a variety of leadership roles at Thayer, including as the associate dean for undergraduate education. An advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, Van Citters currently holds adjunct faculty appointments in chemistry and in orthopaedics and serves as biomaterials advisor in various departments within Dartmouth and at the Geisel School of Medicine.

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal Research, including: orthopaedic failure analysis and design; wear of polymers; polymer processing; biomaterials; biomechanics; implantable and wearable technology; surgical device design

Education

AB, Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth 1999
BE/MS, Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth 2003
PhD, Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth 2006

Awards

Outstanding Service Award for Faculty, Thayer School of Engineering, 2020
Woodhouse Excellence in Teaching Award, Thayer School of Engineering, 2019
Research Visiting Professor, Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 2018
Thayer School Dean’s Mentoring Award, 2017
ASME Journal of Tribology: Best Paper of 2007 Award, 2008
The Dean's Service Award, Thayer School of Engineering, 2006
The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize, Thayer School of Engineering, 2003
The Myron Tribus Fellowship, 2003
The Henry J. McCarthy 1931 Fellowship, 2001

Professional Activities

Dartmouth College Faculty Athletics Representative
Advisor for Tau Beta Pi student chapter
Formula Hybrid Chief Engineering Examiner
ASME Upper Valley Subsection Treasurer
Member of ASME, ASEE, ORS, ASTM, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, ISTA, and AAOS

Research Projects

New devices for total joint arthroplasty
New devices for total joint arthroplasty
New devices research and developent for total joint arthroplasty includes:
- Testing of a new bi-material bearing for a total hip arthroplasty (THA) device against conventional bearing designs to compare levels of bearing surface damage and wear;
- Development of an intraoperative method for quantifying the orientation of prosthetic components used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that is efficient, easy to use, cost effective, and quick with respect to total surgical time.
See more about new devices.
New materials for orthopaedic implants
New materials for orthopaedic implants
New materials research and development for orthopaedic implants includes:
- Evaluation of equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE)-processed ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for joint arthroplasty and industrial applications;
- Investigation of off-label use of a resorbable calcium sulfate antibiotic carrier in single stage and two-stage procedures to determine the potential of this use to change damage patterns or wear rates of artificial joints.
See more about new materials.
Biomechanics analysis and monitoring

Biomechanics analysis and monitoring

Biomechanics analysis and monitoring following joint arthroplasty is valuable for achieving optimal recovery. Our laboratory has developed and implemented a novel method for monitoring continuous long term joint function using inertial measurement units (IMUs). Prospective studies are in progress to compare knee and shoulder function before and after arthroplasty. This data can be compared to a cohort of healthy individuals with no known joint arthropathy.

See more about biomechanics.
Joint replacement bearing material behavior

Joint replacement bearing material behavior

Material behavior of medical grade ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was identified as a serious concern as it limits the overall lifetime and success of a joint replacement. Although total joint arthroplasty involving UHMWPE as a bearing surface has been one of the most successful procedures of the last century, issues of wear, oxidation, and fatigue failure remain obstacles to the longevity of joint replacements.

See more about UHMWPE material behavior.
Knee/shoulder implant bearing function

Knee/shoulder implant bearing function

Bearing function of retrieved knee devices sent to us by orthopaedic surgeons are assessed for damage, and also quantitatively assessed for wear. Dimensions of retrievals are compared to design specifications or shorter in-vivo duration devices to calculate both articular and backside wear. Wear and wear rate are correlated with variables including polyethylene pedigree, articular bearing geometry, device fixation, and patient factors.

Current work also includes examination of a series of reverse and total shoulders to determine the incidence of abrasive and adhesive wear and determine typical locations for these wear patterns on polyethylene components.

See more about knee/shoulder implant bearing function.
Orthopaedic implant failure analysis
Orthopaedic implant failure analysis
Implant failure analysis in the Dartmouth Biomedical Engineering Center for Orthopaedics is ongoing and plays a key role in identifying failure modes and relating them to various designs and materials being used in the industry. In fact, in 2000, NIH's Consensus Development Program produced a technology assessment statement acknowledging the value of implant retrieval programs:
- Implant retrieval and analysis is of critical importance in the process of improving care of patients in need of implants.
- Attention needs to be directed toward reducing various obstacles to implant retrieval and analysis, particularly legal and economic disincentives.
- The failure to appreciate the value of implant retrieval and analysis is a serious impediment to research in devices. A focused educational program will provide the information necessary for improving the quality of future devices.
See more about implant failure analysis.

Selected Publications

Currier BH, Jevsevar KC, Van Citters DW. (2023) "Oxidation in retrieved, never-irradiated UHMWPE bearings: What can we learn about in vivo oxidation?" Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 105(4): 293-301.
Smith TR, Foley KT, Boruah S, Slotkin JR, Woodard E, Lazor JB, Cavaleri C, Brown MC, McDonough B, Hess B, Van Citters DW. (2022) "Use of adhesive cranial bone flap fixation without hardware to improve mechanical strength, resist cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and maintain anatomical alignment: a laboratory study." Journal of Neurosurgery. 139(2): 517-527.
Favreau HJ, Miroshnichenko KI, Solberg PC, Tsukrov II, Van Citters DW. (2022) "Shear enhancement of mechanical and microstructural properties of synthetic graphite and ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene carbon composites." Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 139(20), e52175.
Currier JH, Currier BH, Abdel MP, Berry DJ, Titus A, Van Citters DW. (2021) "What factors drive polyethylene wear in total knee arthroplasty? Results of a large retrieval series." Bone and Joint Journal. 103(11).
Vasylevskyi K, Tsukrov I, Miroshnichenko K, Buklovskyi S, Grover H, Van Citters DW. (2021) "Finite element model of equal channel angular extrusion of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene." Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering. 143(12).
Kesseli FP, Lauer CS, Baker I, Mirica KA, Van Citters DW. (2020) "Identification of a calcium phosphoserine coordination network in an adhesive organo-apatitic bone cement system." Acta Biomaterialia. 105: 280-289.
Seeley-Hacker BL, Holmgren EP, Harper CW, Lauer CS, Van Citters DW. (2020) "An anatomic predisposition to mandibular angle fractures." Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 78(12): 2279-e1.
Chapman RM, Bell JE, Torchia M, Van Citters DW. (2019) "Continuously monitoring total shoulder arthroplasty rehabilitation: Maximum elevation & time spent above 90° elevation are critical metrics to monitor." Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2019 August; 28(8).
Chapman RM, Moschetti WE, Van Citters DW. (2019) "Stance and swing phase knee flexion recover at different rates following total knee arthroplasty: An inertial measurement unit study." J. Biomechanics. 2019 Feb 14; V84.
Currier BH, Hecht PJ, Nunley JA, Mayor MB, Currier JH, Van Citters DW. (2018) "Analysis of failed ankle arthroplasty components". Foot & Ankle International. 2018 Oct 8; 1071100718802589.
Fung M, Bowsher JG, Van Citters DW. (2018) "Variation of mechanical properties and oxidation with radiation dose and source in highly crosslinked remelted UHMWPE". Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2018(82): 112-9.
Currier BH, Currier JH, Holdcroft LA, Van Citters DW. (2018) "Effectiveness of anti-oxidant polyethylene: What early retrievals can tell us." Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. 2018; 106(1).

Patents

Orthopedic leg alignment system and method | 11679007
Bilateral humeral guide for intraosseous infusion | 11534558
Orthopedic leg alignment system and method | 11419737
Movement monitoring systems and methods | 11406290
Device for enabling placement of intra-osseous infusion tools in the upper extremity | 11357546
Method of enhancing interdigitation of bone cement to bone for attachment of prosthesis to bone during arthroplasty | 11324518
Angular processing of polymer composites for electrically conducting polymers | 10829623
Orthopedic leg alignment system and mechanism | 10828175
Movement monitoring systems and methods | 10463279
Method of enhancing interdigitation of bone cement to bone for attachment of prosthesis to bone | 10448958
Angular extrusion for polymer consolidation | 8642723