Dr John Costi

Position/s:	Senior Lecturer, Biomechanics Research School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Phone:	work+61 8 82013323
Email:	john.costi@flinders.edu.au
Location:	Engineering (456)
Postal address:	GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Biography

John has been working as a Biomechanical Engineer in the field of Orthopaedics since 1991 and undertook his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Vermont, USA - one of the most prestigious international biomechanics research centres. He has authored one book chapter, 20 articles, and presented over 75 papers both nationally/internationally on a wide range of biomechanical topics. His major research interests are to understand the mechanisms of spine disc degeneration/tissue injury, and bone/soft tissue mechanics across their hierarchical scales.

Qualifications

2004 PhD, Flinders University
1992 BEng (Hons), The University of Adelaide

Honours, awards and grants

Korecki CL, Costi JJ, Iatridis JC. Needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Finalist - International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) - Clinical Biomechanics Award 2007.
Costi JJ, Stokes IA, Gardner-Morse M, Lubinski J, Iatridis JC. Disc mechanical response to cyclic loading - poroelastic and viscoelastic contributions (Oral Poster). Recipient of the Orthotech Best Poster Award. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia, Hobart, Australia, 2007.
Costi JJ, Stokes IA, Gardner-Morse MG, Laible JP, Scoffone HM, Iatridis JC. Direct measurement of intervertebral disc maximum shear strain in six degrees of freedom: Motions that place disc tissue at risk of injury. Recipient of the New Investigator Award (Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics). Proceedings of the 6^th Bienniel Australasian Biomechanics Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2007.
Costi JJ, Stokes IA, Gardner-Morse MG, Laible JP, Scoffone HM, Iatridis JC. Direct measurement of intervertebral disc deformations and principal tissue strains in six degrees of freedom: Deformations and motions that place tissue at risk of injury. Recipient of the McClure Musculoskeletal Research Award in recognition for outstanding Orthopaedic research. Department of Orthopaedics, McClure Musculoskeletal Research Center, University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA, 2006.
Best Postgraduate Paper Presentation at the joint SA meeting of the Institution of Engineers (IEAust) Biomedical branch, the SMBE (Society for Medical and Biological Engineering) and ACPSEM (Australasian College of Physical Sciences and Engineers in Medicine). Ph.D. presentation title: "Biomechanical Studies of the Intervertebral Disc in an Ovine Model of Disc Degeneration", 2002.

Key responsibilities

Responsible for contributing to the teaching in the School of Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics, particularly in areas relating to biomedical and mechanical engineering. Expected to contribute substantially to the research profile of the School in biomedical engineering and biomechanics, to obtain external grant funding, produce high quality research outputs and supervise research students.

Teaching

Teaching interests

Biomechanics and Mechanical Engineering related topics

Topic Coordinator:

ENGR1732 Mechanical and Electrical Fundamentals
ENGR2732 Biomechanics
ENGR2752 Mechanics of Machines
ENGR3751 Solid Mechanics
ENGR8732 Biomechanics GE

Topic Lecturer:

PHYS1332 Engineering Physics

Research and consultancy

Research interests

John Costi is a Biomechanical Engineer with substantial experience in the conduct of experimental research into Orthopaedic Biomechanics of joints, soft tissue/bone, implants and medical devices. Expertise in the area of the spine and intervertebral disc biomechanics.

His major research interests are to understand the multiscale, complex mechanical behaviour and failure mechanisms of the discs and mechanisms of spine disc degeneration, disc tissue injury and biomechanics, knee ligament reconstruction, soft tissue mechanics and hip implant micromotion.

Multiscale characterisation of soft tissue mechanics

Established materials testing systems exist for medium to large scale determination of the mechanical function for whole biological tissues, implants and medical devices. However, in order to fully quantify the behaviour of tissue structures, an understanding of their structural and mechanical behaviour is required at the nano- and micro-scales. This information, together with macroscopic material behaviour, can be used to develop multi-scale models of tissues that will allow more complex and realistic simulations to be undertaken.

Programs of research are currently being developed at both nano and micro-scales and novel techniques are being developed to measure the micromechanical properties of soft tissue in multiple degrees of freedom.

Hexapod Robot for Biomechanics Testing

A novel design of a Hexapod Robot has been developed within the School in collaboration with the School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide, to enable complex 6 DOF testing of bones, joints, soft tissues, artificial joints and other medical/surgical devices.

Funding has been obtained by John from Foundation Daw Park, Repatriation General Hospital, the Health and Medical Research Fund, Department of Health, SA Government, as well as the School and the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The current hexapod is based heavily on the very successful Hexapod developed at the University of Vermont by Ian Stokes et al.

Postgraduate research supervision

Ms Diana Pham
Ms Melissa Ryan
Mrs Roshida Lazid

Publications

Book chapters

Fazzalari, N., Costi, J.J., & Hearn, T.C., 2003. Structure and function of normal, degenerate, and surgically fixed spinal segments. In Advances in Spinal Fusion. New York, USA: Marcel Dekker Inc., pp. 135-154.

Refereed journal articles

Maharjan, R., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Martin, D.K., Hearn, T.C., & Field, J.R., 2011. The impact of tensioning device mal-positioning on strand tension during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, In-Press.

Costi, J.J., Freeman, B.J., & Elliott, D.M., 2011. Intervertebral disc properties: challenges for biodevices. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 8(3), 357-376.

Stokes, I.A., Laible, J.P., Gardner-Morse, M., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2011. Refinement of elastic, poroelastic and osmotic tissue properties of intervertebral discs to analyze behavior in compression. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 39(1), 122-131.

Willis-Owen, C.A., Hearn, T.C., Keene, G.C., & Costi, J.J., 2010. Biomechanical testing of implant free wedge shaped bone block fixation for bone patellar tendon bone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in a bovine model. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 5(66), 1-5.

Smith, L.J., Byers, S., Costi, J.J., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. Elastic fibers enhance the mechanical integrity of the human lumbar annulus fibrosus in the radial direction. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 36(2), 214-223.

Korecki, C.L., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2008. Needle puncture injury affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Spine, 33(3), 235-241.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2008. Frequency dependent behavior of the intervertebral disc in response to each of six degree of freedom dynamic loading: Solid phase and fluid phase contributions. Spine, 33(16), 1731-1738.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Scoffone, H.M., Laible, J.P., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Direct measurement of intervertebral disc maximum shear strain in six degrees of freedom: Motions that place disc tissue at risk of injury. Journal of Biomechanics, 40(11), 2457-2466.

Mann, C.J., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., & Dobson, P.J., 2005. The effect of screw taper on interference fit during load to failure at the soft tissue/bone interface. Knee, 12(5), 370-376.

Show all publications

Book chapters

Refereed journal articles

Costi, J.J., Freeman, B.J., & Elliott, D.M., 2011. Intervertebral disc properties: challenges for biodevices. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 8(3), 357-376.

Korecki, C.L., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2008. Needle puncture injury affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Spine, 33(3), 235-241.

Mann, C.J., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., & Dobson, P.J., 2005. The effect of screw taper on interference fit during load to failure at the soft tissue/bone interface. Knee, 12(5), 370-376.

Bauze, A., Costi, J.J., Stavrou, P., Rankin, W., Hearn, T.C., Krishnan, J., & Slavotinek, J.P., 2004. Cement penetration and stiffness of the cement-bone composite in the proximal tibia in a porcine model. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery, 12(2), 194-198.

Jayamoorthy, T., Field, J.R., Costi, J.J., Martin, D.K., Stanley, R.M., & Hearn, T.C., 2004. Biceps tenodesis: a biomechanical study of fixation methods. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 13(2), 160-164.

Field, J.R., Hearn, T.C., Costi, J.J., Mcgee, M., Costi, K., Adachi, N., & Ochi, M., 2003. Ultimate tensile strength of a Leeds-Keio/autograft ACL reconstruction utilizing PLLA tibial staple fixation. Injury, 34(5), 334-342.

Costi, J.J., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2002. The effect of hydration on the stiffness of intervertebral discs in an ovine model. Clinical Biomechanics, 17(6), 446-455.

Costi, J.J., Kelly, A.J., Hearn, T.C., & Martin, D.K., 2001. Comparison of torsional strengths of bioabsorbable screws for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 29(5), 575-580.

Fazzalari, N., Costi, J.J., Hearn, T.C., Fraser, R., Vernon-Roberts, B., Hutchinson, J., Manthey, B.A., Parkinson, I.H., & Sinclair, C., 2001. Mechanical and pathologic consequences of induced concentric anular tears in an ovine model. Spine, 26(23), 2575-2581.

Chipchase, L., O'Connor, D.A., Costi, J.J., & Krishnan, J., 2000. Shoulder impingement syndrome: pre-operative health status. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 9(1), 12-15.

Costi, J.J., Krishnan, J., & Pearcy, M.J., 1998. Total wrist arthroplasty: A quantitative review of the last thirty years. Journal of Rheumatology, 25(3), 451-458.

Refereed conference papers

Ding, B., Stanley, R.M., Cazzolato, B.S., & Costi, J.J., 2011. Real-time FPGA control of a hexapod robot for 6-DOF biomechanical testing. IECON 2011 - 37th Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 252-257.

Conference publications

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2008. Intervertebral discs exhibit both poroelastic and intrinsic viscoelastic frequency-dependent behavior in response to six degree of freedom dynamic mechanical loads. Transactions of the 54th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 33, 77-77.

Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Tettis, H., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. Human versus sheep intervertebral disc mechanical and vertebral cortical bone strain properties. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS).

Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Smith, L.J., Tettis, H., Tsangari, H., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. The effects of lumbar motion segment degeneration on strain magnitudes at the vertebral cortices during compression, bending and torsion. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS).

Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Smith, L.J., Tettis, H., Tsangari, H., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. The effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on vertebral cortical strains and disc mechanical properties. Transactions of the 54th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 33, 1439-1439.

Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Smith, L.J., Tettis, H., Tsangari, H., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. The effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on vertebral cortical strains and disc mechanical properties. Proceedings of the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS).

Costi, J.J., Gardner-Morse, M., Iatridis, J.C., Stokes, I.A., & Stanley, R.M., 2008. Intervertebral Disc Swelling Forces Increase with Decreasing Osmolarity. Proceedings of the 14th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS).

Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Smith, L.J., Tettis, H., Tsangari, H., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2008. The effect of intervertebral disc degeneration on vertebral cortical strains and disc mechanical properties. Proceedings of the 19th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia.

Smith, L.J., Byers, S., Costi, J.J., & Fazzalari, N., 2007. Elastic fibres enhance the mechanical integrity of the human lumbar anulus fibrosus transverse to the collagen fibre direction. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society: 13th Annual Scientific Meeting, 36-36.

Korecki, C.L., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Transactions of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 32, 1119-1119.

Korecki, C.L., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia, (A137).

Korecki, C.L., Costi, J.J., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Abstracts of the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine, 34, 110-110.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Lateral bending and flexion place intervertebral disc tissue at greatest risk of injury. XXIth Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics Scientific Program, 21(A194).

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Lateral bending and flexion place intervertebral disc tissue at greatest risk of injury. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society, 33-33.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Lateral bending and flexion motions place disc tissue at greatest risk of injury: direct measurements of disc maximum shear strain in six degrees of freedom. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia, (A136).

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Direct measurement of intervertebral disc maximum shear strain in six degrees of freedom: motions that place disc tissue at risk of injury. Transactions of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 32, 1138-1138.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Direct measurement of intervertebral disc maximum shear strain in six degrees of freedom: motions that place disc tissue at risk of injury. Proceedings of the 6th Biennial Australasian Biomechanics Conference, 39-39.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Iatridis, J.C., & Lubinski, J.R., 2007. Intervertebral discs exhibit both poroelastic and intrinsic viscoelastic frequency-dependent behaviour in response to six degree of freedom dynamic mechanical loads. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society, 40-40.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Iatridis, J.C., & Lubinski, J.R., 2007. Frequency dependent poroelastic and viscoelastic contributions of the intervertebral disc in response to six degree of freedom cyclic loading. XXIth Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics Scientific Program, 21(A201).

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Iatridis, J.C., & Lubinski, J.R., 2007. Disc mechanical response to cyclic loading - poroelastic and viscoelastic contributions. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia, (A138).

Costi, J.J., Korecki, C.L., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Small and large gauge needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society, 33-33.

Costi, J.J., Korecki, C.L., & Iatridis, J.C., 2007. Needle puncture affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology in an organ culture model. XXIth Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics Scientific Program, 21(A197).

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Iatridis, J.C., & Lubinski, J.R., 2007. Disc mechanical response to cyclic loading - poroelastic and viscoelastic contributions. Abstracts of the 34th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine, 34, P33-P33.

Costi, J.J., Stokes, I.A., Gardner-Morse, M., Laible, J.P., Scoffone, H.M., & Iatridis, J.C., 2006. Direct measurement of disc deformations and principal tissue strains in 6 DOF: Deformations and strains that place tissue at risk of injury. Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS).

Tettis, H., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Fazzalari, N., & Hearn, T.C., 2005. A TOOL FOR DYNAMIC PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS IN EXPLANTED TISSUES: A PILOT STUDY. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia.

Costi, J.J., Tettis, H., Stanley, R.M., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2005. Validation of a method and tool for measuring in-vitro spine segment stiffness, cortical strain and pressure distribution in a hydrated, uniform loading environment: A pilot study. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS).

Costi, J.J., Tettis, H., Stanley, R.M., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2005. VALIDATION OF A METHOD TO MEASURE IN-VITRO SPINE SEGMENT STIFFNESS, CORTICAL STRAIN AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN A HYDRATED, UNIFORM LOADING ENVIRONMENT. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia.

Costi, J.J., Tettis, H., Stanley, R.M., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2005. IN-VITRO MEASUREMENT OF SPINE SEGMENT STIFFNESS, CORTICAL STRAIN AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN A HYDRATED, UNIFORM LOADING ENVIRONMENT: A PILOT STUDY ' PART 1 EFFECT OF SEQUENTIAL VERTEBRAL BONE REMOVAL. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia.

Costi, J.J., Tettis, H., Stanley, R.M., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2005. IN-VITRO MEASUREMENT OF SPINE SEGMENT STIFFNESS AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN A HYDRATED, UNIFORM LOADING ENVIRONMENT: A PILOT STUDY ' PART 2 EFFECT OF ANNULAR DISC INJURY. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Spine Society of Australia.

Maharjan, R., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Dermis, D., Martin, D.K., & Field, J.R., 2003. A study of strand tension during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using quadrupled hamstring tendon. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS).

Andrade, A.J., Costi, J.J., Stock, D., Stanley, R.M., Hearn, T.C., & Spriggins, A., 2002. The In-Vivo Intraoperative Biomechanical Properties of ACL Grafts. Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the European Society of Sports traumatology Knee surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).

Hearn, T.C., Graham, J.R., Anderson, A., Stewien, J., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Field, J.R., & Krishnan, J., 2001. Computerised monitoring of implant migration. Proceedings of the 13th Trigennial Congress of the Asian Pacific Orthopaedics Association, 121-121.

Field, J.R., Hearn, T.C., Costi, J.J., Mcgee, M., Costi, K., Adachi, N., & Ochi, M., 2001. Assenssment of a bioresobable tibial staple for ACL reconstruction using an ovine model. Westpac Orthopaedic Association Biannual Meeting Proceedings.

Field, J.R., Hearn, T.C., Costi, J.J., Mcgee, M., Costi, K., Adachi, N., & Ochi, M., 2001. An ovine model of ACL reconstruction: a bioresorable tibial staple. 47th Annual Meeting Orthopaedic Research Society Proceedings.

Costi, J.J., Hearn, T.C., & Fazzalari, N., 2001. Biomechanical studies of the disco-vertibral joint in an ovine model of disc degeneration. Proceedings of the 13th Trigennial Congress of the Asian Pacific Orthopaedics Association.

Costi, J.J., Dunlop, D., Barker, D.S., Howie, C.R., Field, J.R., Hearn, T.C., & Howie, D.W., 2001. Develpoment of a novel method for measuring three-dimensional micromotion in an ovine hip replacement model. Proceedings of the 13th triennial congress of the asia pacific orthopaedic association.

Barker, D.S., Costi, J.J., Hearn, T.C., & Krishnan, J., 2001. The effect of a cemented metacarpophalangeal prosthesis on metacarpal strain. South Australian Hand Surgery Society Annual Scientific Meeting Proceedings.

Andrade, A.J., Stock, D., Costi, J.J., Stanley, R.M., Kelly, N., Hearn, T.C., Oakshott, R.D., & Spriggins, A.J., 2001. The in vivo intraoperative biomechanical properties of ACL grafts. Journal of bone and joint surgery, 84-B(Suppl III), 258-258.

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Professional and community engagement

Journal Reviewer
Journal of Biomechanics
Journal of Orthopaedic Research
Spine
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Secretary
Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS)

Committee Member
College of Biomedical Engineering (SA Branch), Engineers Australia

Expertise for media contact

Biomechanics Biomechanics of bones, soft tissues and joints

Subject/s

Engineering - Biomedical

Further information

Biomechanics and Implants Program

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