A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) system is provided for surgical correction of a stifle joint of an animal. The system includes a bone plate, fixed angle locking screw, compression screw, and a K-wire. The bone plate includes first surface and a second surfaces having common structure such that each can be positioned against the bone. The plate has a first shaft portion with a dynamic compression screw hole having a major length both extending along a first axis, and second shaft portion with a second axis and K-wire slot defining a major axis angled relative to the second axis but parallel to the first axis. The locking screw has double lead threads and the threaded holes in the plate have quad-lead threads.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment and method for head-fixing rats for experimental purposes. The invention provides a tool for multi-region electrophysiology & precision monitoring of organismal state during complex cognitive tasks. The attachment for a skull of a rat, comprises a frame enclosing an open space inside the frame, at least one tooth on the frame extending from the frame towards the open space. Adhesive may be used as an attaching agent.

In one aspect, ultrasound transducers are described herein comprising acoustic lenses having enhanced wear resistance. Such transducers can be employed in applications having harsh operating conditions, including veterinary applications. A transducer described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a polymeric acoustic lens having an acoustic velocity greater than 1.7 mm/μs, the polymeric acoustic lens arranged over an array of transducer elements wherein the array of transducer elements has a curvature in an elevation plane sufficient to compensate for wave refraction induced by the acoustic velocity of the polymeric acoustic lens to provide elevation focusing of an ultrasound beam generated by the transducer element array.

A puncturing tool for small animals which has a novel structure, facilitates confirmation of the connection state of a capillary tube, and can prevent inadvertent detachment of the capillary tube. A puncturing tool for small animals includes a connecting part for a capillary tube on the proximal end side of a hollow needle, wherein the connecting part has a tapered peripheral wall that expanding and extending in a direction away from the hollow needle, and a tapered peripheral wall has an elastic fitting part, through which the capillary tube is inserted, projecting inward from a middle portion of the tapered peripheral wall in the length direction thereof.

A puncturing tool for small animals which has a novel structure, facilitates confirmation of the connection state of a capillary tube, and can prevent inadvertent detachment of the capillary tube. A puncturing tool for small animals includes a connecting part for a capillary tube on the proximal end side of a hollow needle, wherein the connecting part has a tapered peripheral wall that expanding and extending in a direction away from the hollow needle, and a tapered peripheral wall has an elastic fitting part, through which the capillary tube is inserted, projecting inward from a middle portion of the tapered peripheral wall in the length direction thereof.

The invention relates to a surgical guide for receiving and guiding a surgical instrument performing a bone osteotomy, the guide including a body, at least one cutting channel extending in length along the first body face and extending through the body, the cutting channel having a discrete length such that the channel is bounded by the first and second body faces through which it extends, two or more apertures adapted to receive a fixation device, the guide including one or more elongate arms or arm assemblies directly or indirectly connected to and extending from one side wall of the body. The guide may be used in canine tibial plateau levelling osteotomy and other orthopedic or surgical procedures. Also described are methods for use of the guide.

The invention relates to a surgical guide for receiving and guiding a surgical instrument performing a bone osteotomy, the guide including a body, at least one cutting channel extending in length along the first body face and extending through the body, the cutting channel having a discrete length such that the channel is bounded by the first and second body faces through which it extends, two or more apertures adapted to receive a fixation device, the guide including one or more elongate arms or arm assemblies directly or indirectly connected to and extending from one side wall of the body. The guide may be used in canine tibial plateau levelling osteotomy and other orthopedic or surgical procedures. Also described are methods for use of the guide.

Disclosed are methods, materials and devices for approximation of blood volume in a fluid, such as in a biological fluid collected during a surgical procedure. The method and devices include the use of a RBC flocculant, such as polyDADMAC, and an approximate blood hematocrit for the type of animal, as well as a calculated RBC packing ratio corresponding to the collection device being used. Also provided is a Blood Indicator Panel (BIP), comprising a series of markings calculated from an observed red blood settlement volume, the average animal type hematocrit, and a calculated RBC packing ratio “η” value for the collection device. Pediatric (about 200 ml or 250 ml size container), adult human (about 1,000 ml-1,500 ml) and veterinary (about 500 ml-2,500 ml) collection containers are also disclosed, that include a RBC flocculant, for use in approximating blood volume in a fluid.

The device is a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) plate is used to stabilize a stifle joint in an animal in veterinary surgery after a torn cranial cruciate ligament. The TPLO plate has a proximal portion and a curved distal portion, connected by an offset portion.

The device is a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) plate is used to stabilize a stifle joint in an animal in veterinary surgery after a torn cranial cruciate ligament. The TPLO plate has a proximal portion and a curved distal portion, connected by an offset portion.