Director: Cheng-Kung Cheng, Ph.D.
In 1995, Professor Cheng-Kung Cheng established the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory at the National Yang- Ming University. The purpose of the laboratory was to educate and train researchers specializing in orthopaedic biomechanics, and to improve the quality of research and development in Taiwan.
With financial support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, the Joint Prosthesis Technology Research Center (JPTRC) was founded in 2004, operating as a progressive development from the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory. The center’s primary goal was to construct a platform for the research and development of joint prostheses. As the research base expanded into the advancement of trauma and spinal devices, in 2009, the JPTRC was reassigned as the Orthopaedic Device Research Center (ODRC). With financial backing from the Southern Taiwan Science Park, a Kaohsiung Division of ODRC was established. The Kaohsiung center specializes in the design and testing of orthopaedic devices and in applications for regulatory approval for industrial and commercial clients. There are 4 Ph.Ds, 2 Master researchers, 2 engineers, 5 clinical surgeons, and 9 graduate students in our center.
To date, we have published 110 Scientific papers, have 31 patents and received US FDA 510(k) approval for an orthopaedic trauma device. We have also established three technique platforms that allow systematic development and analysis of novel and retrieved devices; R&D, Innovative Technology, and Retrieval Analysis and Testing. The examination of Asian-specific diseases and functional designs are currently the center’s primary targets for orthopaedic product development. Moreover, we have expanded our operations to cooperate with institutions and companies in China, Japan, Korea, India, United States, United Kingdom, Finland and Germany. Our main goal is to provide a comprehensive solution for clients by translating initial clinical ideas into regulatory-approved devices.