TPLO Plate Offset-Hole Structure for Cranial Osteotomy Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TPLO plates fail to properly secure the cut and repositioned portion of the tibia, leading to improper healing due to inadequate seating or compression during the osteotomy procedure.
Innovation Solution
A TPLO plate with specific hole configurations, including elongated and offset portions, allows for both cranial and distal compressions through the insertion of bone fixation elements, ensuring proper seating and alignment of the tibial segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional TPLO plate is used, then the plate can be easily applied to the tibia, but the cut portion of the tibia is not properly compressed against the lower portion, leading to improper healing
Solution Approach 1:
The hole is divided into two distinct portions: an elongated portion extending along the longitudinal axis and an offset portion extending at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. This segmentation allows the bone fixation element to be inserted along one path while generating compression force along a different path, thereby achieving both ease of insertion and effective compression of the osteotomy cut.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset portion of the hole introduces a angular dimension to the insertion path. By extending the hole at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the design transforms a simple linear insertion into a multi-dimensional action that simultaneously achieves insertion and compression through geometric translation of the bone fixation element.
2Reliability
If the cut portion is not properly seated on the lower portion of the tibia, then the TPLO procedure can be completed quickly, but the bone fails to heal properly
Solution Approach 1:
The offset hole configuration enables the bone fixation element to automatically generate compression force as it is inserted. The geometric relationship between the elongated and offset portions causes the fixation element to translate along the offset axis, thereby self-generating the necessary compression to properly seat the cut portion without requiring additional manual adjustment.
3Reliability
If sufficient compression is applied to the osteotomy cut, then proper healing is achieved, but the plate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The offset hole serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the insertion path for the bone fixation element, generates compression force across the osteotomy cut, and enables proper seating of the cut portion. This multi-functionality is achieved through the integrated design of the elongated and offset portions working together as a single structural feature.
Data Source
AI summary
TPLO plate includes first and second distal holes and a body with a proximal portion positioned over a proximal tibia segment and a distal portion extending along a longitudinal axis and positioned over a distal tibia segment. The first hole includes an elongated portion extending along the longitudinal axis and an offset portion extending distally from the elongated portion along an offset axis at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The second hole extends through the distal portion along the longitudinal axis in alignment with the elongated portion and includes a sloped compression surface along a distal portion. The first hole is such that, when a distal compression to osteotomy cut is applied via insertion of a bone fixation element into the distal portion, the element translates along the offset axis from a central axis to an intersection point to provide a cranial compression to the cut.