PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a system aiming to correct scoliosis called "electromagnetically controlled shape-memory alloy rods" (EC-SMAR) used in a rabbit model. METHODS We heat-treated shape-memory alloy (SMA) rods to achieve a transition temperature between 34 and 47 °C and a C-shape austenite phase. We then developed a water-cooled generator capable of generating an alternating magnetic field (100 kHz) for induction heating. We next studied the efficacy of this system in vitro and determined some parameters prior to proceeding with animal experiments. We then employed a rabbit model, in which we fixed a straight rod along the spinous processes intraoperatively, and conducted induction heating postoperatively every 4 days for 1 month, while performing periodic X-ray assessments. RESULTS Significant kyphotic deformations with Cobb angles of about 45° (p < 0.01) were created in five rabbits, and no complications occurred throughout the experiment. The rabbits are still very much alive and do not show any signs of discomfort. CONCLUSIONS This is the first system that can modulate spinal deformation in a gradual, contactless, noninvasive manner through electromagnetic induction heating applied to SMA alloy rods. Although this study dealt with healthy spines, it provides promising evidence that this device also has the capacity to correct human kyphosis and even scoliosis in the future. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

中文翻译：

---

电磁控制形状记忆合金棒对脊柱侧弯的非接触治疗：在兔中的初步研究。

目的评估在兔子模型中使用的旨在纠正脊柱侧弯的系统的安全性和有效性，该系统称为“电磁控制的形状记忆合金棒”（EC-SMAR）。方法我们对形状记忆合金（SMA）棒进行了热处理，以达到34至47°C的转变温度和C形奥氏体相。然后，我们开发了一种水冷发电机，该发电机能够产生用于感应加热的交变磁场（100 kHz）。接下来，我们在体外研究该系统的功效，并在进行动物实验之前确定了一些参数。然后，我们采用了兔子模型，在该模型中，我们在手术过程中沿棘突固定了一条直杆，并在术后每4天进行感应加热，持续1个月，同时进行定期X射线评估。结果在五只兔子中产生了Cobb角约为45°（p <0.01）的显着后凸变形，并且在整个实验过程中均未发生并发症。兔子还活着，没有任何不适的迹象。结论这是第一个可以通过对SMA合金棒施加电磁感应加热来逐步，无接触，无创地调节脊柱变形的系统。尽管这项研究涉及健康的脊椎，但它提供了有希望的证据，表明该设备在将来还具有矫正人类后凸甚至脊柱侧弯的能力。这些幻灯片可以在电子补充材料下找到。兔子还活着，没有任何不适的迹象。结论这是第一个可以通过对SMA合金棒施加电磁感应加热来逐步，无接触，无创地调节脊柱变形的系统。尽管这项研究涉及健康的脊椎，但它提供了有希望的证据，表明该设备在将来还具有矫正人类后凸甚至脊柱侧弯的能力。这些幻灯片可以在电子补充材料下找到。兔子还活着，没有任何不适的迹象。结论这是第一个可以通过对SMA合金棒施加电磁感应加热来逐步，无接触，无创地调节脊柱变形的系统。尽管这项研究涉及健康的脊椎，但它提供了有希望的证据，表明该设备在将来还具有矫正人类后凸甚至脊柱侧弯的能力。这些幻灯片可以在电子补充材料下找到。它提供了有希望的证据，表明该设备还具有在将来纠正人类后凸畸形甚至脊柱侧弯的能力。这些幻灯片可以在电子补充材料下找到。它提供了有希望的证据，表明该设备还具有在将来纠正人类后凸畸形甚至脊柱侧弯的能力。这些幻灯片可以在电子补充材料下找到。