Mr. Siskey's primary focus is medical device consulting projects requiring advanced mechanical and chemical characterization of products. This testing involves developing fixtures, methods, and protocols to characterize the device based on the clients’ needs. He has previously developed and performed wear and material testing in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards, cadaveric testing, and customized protocols.
As one of the Philadelphia office laboratory managers, Mr. Siskey is responsible for maintaining the Philadelphia Laboratory’s ISO 17025 accreditation with A2LA. Specifically, he is responsible for calibration, equipment maintenance, laboratory organization, and proposing new equipment purchases. Additionally, he trains new employees on the use of all equipment and testing procedures, and is responsible for maintaining standard operating procedures.
Mr. Siskey received his MTS certification, which enables him to develop customized testing procedures on the laboratory servo-hydraulic load frames and spine wear simulator. He also maintains an understanding of mechanical testing using an electromechanical Instron load frame and Bose LM1 test bench system. Additional methods include surface characterization using a Zygo white light interferometer, and chemical characterization using FTIR. Previous experience in tribology has included re-design of a Matco hip wear tester, re-design of a biaxial knee wear tester, and design of a spine disc wear tester.
Additionally, Mr. Siskey has conducted environmental monitoring with Exponent’s Environmental Sciences group. Specifically he has set up, maintained, and calibrated air particulate monitoring equipment and weather monitoring equipment. He has also conducted analysis of the data collected with these systems.
Kurtz SM, Siskey R, Ciccarelli L, van Ooij A, Peloza J, Villarraga ML. Retrieval analysis of total disc replacements: Implications for standardized wear testing. J ASTM International 2006; 3(6):1–12.
Grochowsky JC, Alaways WL, et al. Digital photogrammetry for quantitative wear analysis of retrieved TKA components. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2006; 79(2):263–267.
Kurtz SM, Peloza J, Siskey RS, Villarraga ML. Analysis of a retrieved polyethylene total disc replacement component. Spine J 2005; 5(3):344–350.
Conference Papers and Abstracts
Kurtz S, Siskey R, Whipperman B, Siebert W, Mai S. Wear mechanisms of human retrieved polycarbonate urethane acetabular components. World Congress of Biomaterials, 2008.
Kurtz S, Siskey R. Accelerated aging of gamma-sterilized polycarbonate urethane acetabular components. World Congress of Biomaterials, 2008.
Kurtz S, Siskey R, Shah P. Validation of MicroCT measurement of in vivo volumetric wear for retrieved PCU acetabular components. World Congress of Biomaterials, 2008.
Siskey R, Kurtz S, Shah P, Ciccarelli L, Harper M, Chan F. A validation of ISO-standard wear testing using retrieved metal-on-metal cervical disc replacements. Spine Arthroplasty Society, 2008.
Kurtz SM, Ebert M, Siskey R, Ciccarelli L, Reitman M, Harper ML, Chan FW. Natural and accelerated post-sterilization aging of polyurethanes in the BRYAN® Cervical Disc. Spine Arthroplasty Society, 2008.
Siskey RL, Villarraga M, Guerin H, Shah P, Kurtz SM. Developing a surrogate annulus fibrosus model for nucleus pulposus replacement wear and fatigue characterization. Spine Arthroplasty Society, 2008.
Siskey RL, Kurtz SM, Shah P, Ciccarelli L, Harper M, Chan F, White S. Validation of ISO-standard wear testing with retrieved metal-on-metal cervical disc replacements. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society Vol. 33, p. 1927, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
Siskey RL, Villarraga M, Guerin H, Shah P, Kurtz SM. Design and validation of a surrogate annulus fibrosus model for nucleus pulposus replacement wear and fatigue characterization. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society Vol. 33, p. 1924 San Francisco, CA, 2008.
Guerin HL, Heinly JN, Auerbach JD, Siskey RL, Lonner BS, Villarraga ML, Kurtz SM. Human intervertebral disc cartilaginous endplate tensile mechanical properties are anisotropic and degeneration dependent. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society Vol. 33, p. 1444, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
Ianuzzi A, Kurtz SM, van Ooij A, Bindal RK, Ross R, Bohinski RJ, Kane W, Siskey R, Shah P, Villarraga ML. In vivo deformation, surface damage, and biostability of retrieved Dynesys components for posterior dynamic stabilization. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society Vol. 33, p. 1325, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
Markel D, Day J, Siskey R, Liepins I, Kurtz S, Ong K. Deformation of metal-backed acetabular components and the impact of liner thickness in a cadaveric model. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Vol. 33, p. 1769, San Francisco, CA, 2008.
Kurtz SM, Powell M, Ciccarelli L, Siskey R, White S, Chan F. Correlation of in-vivo and simulator-retrieved metal-on-metal cervical disc replacements. Proceedings, Eurospine 2007, Paper No. 10, Brussels, Belgium, October 2–6, 2007.
Markel D, Day J, Siskey R, Kurtz S, Ong K, Liepins I. Deformation of metal-backed acetabular components and the impact of liner thickness in a cadaveric model. 20th Annual Symposium of the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty, Paper A3-2, Paris, France, October 4–6, 2007.
Kurtz SM, Powell M, Ciccarelli L, Siskey R, White S, Chan F. Correlation of in-vivo and simulator-retrieved metal-on-metal cervical disc replacements. 7th Annual Meeting of the Spine Arthroplasty Society, Paper No. PA-WE08, Berlin, Germany, May 1–4, 2007.
Kurtz S, Mazzucco D, Siskey R, Dumbleton J, Manley M, Wang A. Trace concentrations of vitamin e protect radiation crosslinked uhmwpe from oxidative degradation. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2007; 32.
Kurtz SM, Grochowsky J, Siskey RS, Most E, Alaways L. Digital photogrammetry for quantitative wear analysis of retrieved TKA components. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2005; 30:153.
Kurtz SM, Grochowsky J, Siskey R, Sharkey P, Purtill J, Hozack W. Relationship between post damage and condylar damage in posterior-stabilized TKA. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2004; 29:1394.
Kurtz SM, Siskey RL, Cooper C, Allen M, Hubbard N. Effects of dose rate and thermal treatment on the physical and mechanical properties of highly crosslinked UHMWPE used in total joint replacement. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2003; 28:1411.
Conference Presentations
Siskey R, Kurtz S, Shah P, Ciccarelli L, Harper M, Chan F. Validation of ISO total disc wear testing using retrieved metal-on-metal cervical disc replacements. Spine Arthroplasty Society, 2008.