Tibial Implant Bridge Structure for Anterior Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic tibial implants face challenges in efficiently handling anterior loading and distributing loads while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing thickness.
Innovation Solution
The tibial implant design incorporates bridge members between pegs and keels, along with chamfer loading zones between the tibial tray and support member, to distribute loads effectively and minimize thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tibial implant is designed to handle anterior loading by increasing structural thickness, then the load-bearing capacity and structural strength are improved, but the overall thickness of the implant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into functionally distinct components: a tibial tray for load distribution, a support member for structural support, keels for anchoring, and bridge members for load transfer. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the implant to handle anterior loading without requiring uniform thickness increases across the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Bridge members are introduced as intermediary elements that couple the keels to the tibial tray. These bridge members specifically address anterior loading by providing a load transfer path from the anterior portion of the tibial tray to the keels, thereby enhancing structural strength in the anterior region without increasing the overall thickness of the implant.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tibial implant uses a convex lateral side to mimic natural tibia kinematics, then the kinematic fidelity and screw home position are improved, but the anterior loading on the tibial tray increases
Solution Approach 1:
Bridge members serve as intermediary structures that transfer anterior loads from the tibial tray to the keels. This allows the implant to maintain the convex lateral side design for kinematic fidelity while the bridge members handle the additional anterior loading, preventing tray failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant structure is segmented into load-bearing components (keels, bridge members) that specifically address anterior loading, allowing the lateral convexity to maintain kinematic function while the segmented load transfer path manages the forces generated by that kinematics.
3Ease of operation
If the tibial tray thickness is reduced to minimize implant profile, then the ease of implantation and patient comfort are improved, but the load distribution capacity and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The implant employs local quality by concentrating structural reinforcement where needed: keels extend into the intramedullary canal for anchoring, bridge members are positioned to handle anterior loads, and the tibial tray is designed with specific thickness variations. This allows thin regions for ease of implantation while maintaining strength in critical load-bearing areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented architecture distributes loads through specialized components rather than requiring uniform thickness. The keels, bridge members, and tibial tray each handle specific portions of the load, enabling overall thickness reduction while preserving load distribution capacity through the segmented load path.
Data Source
AI summary
A knee prosthesis (e.g., a tibial implant or component) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tibial implant includes a load bearing component (e.g., a tibial tray) and a support member arranged and configured to be at least partially positioned within an intramedullary canal of a patient's bone. In some embodiments, the tibial implant may also include one or more pegs positioned anteriorly on a bottom surface of the tray and one or more bridges for coupling the pegs to the support member so that loads received by the pegs are transferred to the support member via the bridge. In addition, and/or alternatively, the tibial implant may include one or more chamfers or loading zones for elongating the transition area between the support member and the bottom surface of the tibial tray to extend the area over which the load is transferred.