Compact TPLO Tibial Plate Structure for Smaller Incisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TPLO implant devices require long surgical exposures due to their elongated appendages, leading to increased recovery times and infection risk, and result in longer procedures with non-uniform stress distribution across the tibial cut.
Innovation Solution
A compact implant device design comprising epiphyseal and metaphyseal tibial plate sections with screw holes and a ligament, made from implant grade alloy, that securely joins the tibial fragments with a high aspect ratio and uniform width, matching the curvilinear cut to minimize incision size and infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional implant devices with elongated appendages are used, then secure fixation of the plate to the metaphyseal section is achieved, but surgical exposure time is increased and infection risk is elevated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the unnecessary elongated appendage from the implant device, extracting only the essential functional components (plate and ligament) needed for securing the osteotomy. This eliminates the portion of the device that caused increased surgical exposure time and infection risk while preserving the core fixation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the implant device by eliminating the elongated appendage and using a compact plate design with uniform width. This parameter change reduces the surgical exposure required while maintaining adequate fixation through optimized plate positioning and ligament attachment.
2Reliability
If conventional bulky implant devices are used, then fixation is provided, but procedure duration is increased and infection risk is elevated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the bulky, non-essential portions of conventional implant devices, retaining only the minimal necessary components (compact plate and ligament) to achieve stable fixation. This reduction in device bulk directly decreases procedure duration and associated infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding elongated appendages to ensure fixation (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using a minimal compact design and achieving fixation through alternative means (plate positioning, screw fixation, and ligament tensioning), thereby reducing procedure complexity and time.
3Reliability
If conventional implant devices with elongated appendages are used, then plate securement is achieved, but incision size is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the elongated appendage that necessitated larger incisions, keeping only the essential compact plate and ligament components. This extraction allows for smaller incision sizes while maintaining adequate plate securement through optimized fixation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the length parameter of the implant device by eliminating the elongated appendage and using a compact plate design. This parameter change directly reduces the incision size required for implantation while maintaining securement through alternative fixation mechanisms.
4Reliability
If conventional implant devices are used, then fixation is provided, but non-uniform stress distribution occurs across the tibial cut
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using a plate with uniform width that distributes stress evenly across the tibial cut. The consistent cross-sectional geometry ensures uniform stress distribution along the plate length, preventing stress concentration points that could lead to fixation failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves homogeneity in stress distribution through the uniform width design of the plate. This homogeneous geometric structure ensures even load distribution across the osteotomy site, improving fixation reliability and reducing the risk of stress-related complications.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant device that includes: an epiphyseal and a metaphyseal tibial plate section comprising at least two screw holes and a bone-contacting surface, each screw hole for securing the respective plate section to a respective epiphyseal or metaphyseal tibial bone fragment; and a ligament configured to join the tibial plate sections and span a curvilinear tibial cut between the bone fragments that has a curvilinear cut radius. Each of the tibial plate sections comprises a tibial plate length and width, and each length is at least two times longer than the respective width. Further, the width of each of the tibial plate sections is substantially uniform along the length of each of the respective plate sections. In addition, each of the tibial plate sections comprises a cut-adjacent curvilinear surface that is substantially normal to its bone-contacting surface and comprises a plate radius within ±25% of the curvilinear cut radius.