Abstract: An augmentation method is provided, wherein a thermoplastic augmentation element is subject to mechanical energy impact and mechanical pressure by a tool so that augmentation material of the augmentation element is liquefied and pressed into hard tissue to augment the hard tissue, wherein in at least one axial depth, the augmentation element is segmented as a function of the circumferential angle so that at this axial depth the circumferential wall of the initial opening in first regions is in contact with the augmentation element and in second regions is not in contact with the augmentation element.

Abstract: A reinforcement and/or lining method is provided, wherein a thermoplastic reinforcement and/or lining element is subject to mechanical energy impact and mechanical pressure by a tool so that reinforcement and/or lining material of the reinforcement and/or lining element is liquefied and pressed into porous material to reinforce the porous material. In at least one axial depth, the reinforcement and/or lining element is segmented as a function of the circumferential angle so that at this axial depth the circumferential wall of the initial opening in first regions is in contact with the reinforcement and/or lining element and in second regions is not in contact with the reinforcement and/or lining element.

Abstract: A handling device for handling an augmentation implant is proposed, comprising an elongated housing having an axial through-bore for accommodating a sonotrode of an ultrasound applicator, and a lateral opening for inserting a pin magazine with an augmentation pin, wherein the axial through-bore and the lateral opening are connected to each other. The handling device further comprises a distal implant portion for fastening a proximal end of the augmentation implant at the housing, and a proximal tool portion for driving and/or augmenting the augmentation implant.

Abstract: The fusion device for fusing a synovial joint of a human or animal patient, in particular a human facet joint, finger joint or toe joint, includes two pin-shaped anchorage portions and arranged therebetween a stabilization portion. The anchorage portions include a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. The stabilization portion preferably has a surface which is equipped for enhancing osseointegration. The anchorage portions have a greater thickness and a greater depth than the stabilization portion. Then the fusion device is pushed between the articular surfaces and mechanical vibration, in particular ultrasonic vibration, is applied to the proximal face of the fusion device. Thereby the liquefiable material is liquefied where in contact with the bone tissue and penetrates into the bone tissue, where after re-solidification it constitutes a positive fit connection between the fusion device and the bone tissue.

Abstract: A surgical method is provided, the method including the steps of: providing an artificial or allograft flexible planar structure; providing an implant, the implant including material liquefiable by mechanical oscillation, exposing a surface region of hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material; positioning the implant on an exposed area of the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material; and fastening the implant to the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material by impinging the proximal end of the implant with mechanical oscillation and simultaneously pressing the implant against the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material while the distal end of the implant protrudes into a cavity of the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material and regions of the liquefiable material are in contact with the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material, and thereby liquefying at least a portion of the liquefiable material, and letting the liquefiable material resolidify.

Abstract: A method for locating a material having thermoplastic properties in pores of bone tissue includes providing a pin having the material having thermoplastic properties and a core, wherein the material having thermoplastic properties is arranged on the circumferential surface of the core constituting an outer region of the pin. An opening is provided in the bone tissue, and the pin is positioned at least partly in the opening. The outer region of the pin is then impinged with mechanical vibration energy for a time sufficient for liquefying at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties, and, in a liquefied state, pressing it into the pores of the bone tissue surrounding the opening. The vibration energy is stopped for a time sufficient for re-solidification of the liquefied material, and then the core is removed.

Abstract: For fixedly implanting a device for material or signal delivery or acquisition or a part of such a device in a human or animal body, an opening is provided in hard tissue of the body, the opening reaching through a hard tissue layer, e.g. through a cortical bone layer into cancellous bone underneath. The device includes a plug portion (P) and/or a cover portion (C) which includes a ring of a material having thermoplastic properties extending around the plug portion (P) or on a tissue facing surface of the cover portion (C). The opening provided in the hard tissue has a cross section at least in the area of its mouth that is adapted to the plug or cover portion such that the plug portion (P) can be introduced through the mouth of the opening or the cover portion (C) can be positioned over the mouth of the opening such that the ring extends around the opening, along its wall and/or on the hard tissue surface around its mouth.

Abstract: A medical device is provided, the device, for example, being implantable into a human or animal body or being an augmentation device for strengthening human or animal hard tissue for subsequent implantation of a separate implant. The device includes a sheath element suitable of being brought into contact, during a surgical operation, with live hard tissue and/or with hard tissue replacement material. The sheath element has a, for example, generally elongate shape and a longitudinal bore defining a longitudinal opening reaching from a proximal end of the sheath element into a distal direction, and a plurality of holes in a wall of the opening. Further, the device includes a liquefiable element that is insertable or inserted in the longitudinal opening and at least partly liquefiable by the impact of energy impinging from the proximal side.

Abstract: An implant according to the invention includes first thermoplastic material portions, and second thermoplastic material portions liquefiable by mechanical vibrations and being in contact with the first thermoplastic material portions, wherein the second thermoplastic material portions preferably constitute at least a part of a surface of the implant, and wherein the first thermoplastic material portions have a glass transition temperature above an implantation temperature (about 20° C. to 40° C.), and wherein the second thermoplastic material portions either have a glass transition temperature below said implantation temperature or include means for transforming non-mechanical energy into heat.

Abstract: For dispensing a material with thermoplastic properties in a flowable state at an operation site in a human or animal patient, a device is used, which includes the material having thermoplastic properties in a solid state and is equipped for bringing the material into a flowable state at a distal device end positioned at the site where dispensing is desired and for driving the flowable material from this distal device end. The device comprises a rotation drive, a consumable element and a dispenser element, wherein one of the two elements is coupled to the rotation drive and wherein the consumable element comprises the material to be dispensed. The two elements are arranged with parallel longitudinal axes and the dispenser element comprises a distal end piece with a proximal face against which a distal face of the consumable element is held and advanced during dispensing.

Abstract: A device according to the invention for deflecting mechanical oscillations, at an oscillation receiver location may be set into oscillation along a first axis, and transmits such an oscillation into an oscillation along a second axis at an oscillation output location, wherein the first and the second axis form an angle to one another. The device in characterized essentially by the fact that it includes an elongate, bent oscillation element, on whose one end a coupling-in point and at whose other end a coupling-out point is arranged, wherein the device is designed in a manner such that the oscillation element oscillates transversally at the coupling-in point and at the coupling-out point, when the oscillation receiver location is subjected to an oscillation.

Abstract: An implant according to the invention includes first thermoplastic material portions, and second thermoplastic material portions liquefiable by mechanical vibrations and being in contact with the first thermoplastic material portions, wherein the second thermoplastic material portions preferably constitute at least a part of a surface of the implant, and wherein the first thermoplastic material portions have a glass transition temperature above an implantation temperature (about 20° C. to 40° C.), and wherein the second thermoplastic material portions either have a glass transition temperature below said implantation temperature or include means for transforming non-mechanical energy into heat.

Abstract: An implant suitable for being anchored with the aid of mechanical vibration in an opening provided in bone tissue. The implant is compressible in the direction of a compression axis under local enlargement of a distance between a peripheral implant surface and the compression axis. The implant includes a coupling-in face which serves for coupling a compressing force and the mechanical vibrations into the implant, which coupling-in face is not parallel to the compression axis. The implant also includes a thermoplastic material which, in areas of the local distance enlargement, forms at least a part of the peripheral surface of the implant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a joining element (10), especially a suture material for surgical use. The joining element (10) is composed of a first material (12) that is essentially rigid during impingement by a relatively short-lasting tensile load on opposite sides as well as a second material (11) which is connected to the first material. The second material is substantially rigid during impingement by said tensile load on opposite sides while contracting slowly during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A device and method for fixating soft tissue to hard tissue with the aid of a suture anchor and a suture or with the aid of a headed anchor, wherein the anchor is forced into the hard tissue and then anchored therein by in situ liquefaction of a material having thermoplastic properties. The device includes a vibration tool and the anchor and possibly a support element, wherein the anchor includes an anchor foot and a thermoplastic sleeve. The thermoplastic sleeve includes the material having thermoplastic properties. The anchor foot has a distal end suitable for being forced into hard tissue and it is connected to the distal end of the vibration tool and the thermoplastic sleeve sits on a proximal face of the anchor foot , the vibration tool and/or a proximal portion of the anchor foot extending into or through the thermoplastic sleeve.

Abstract: A system and method of angularly stable fixation of an implant on a bone includes the steps of making at least one hole in the bone by means of a bone drill. An implant is placed on the bone in a desired position and joining the implant with the bone, such that the implant is prevented from rotation about its attachment point. A system is provided for use in the above described method. The system comprises a bone drill, an implant and a sonotrode for angularly stable fixation of the implant on the bone. The system can further comprise a joining element to join the implant with the bone.

Abstract: A system and method of angularly stable fixation of an implant on a bone includes the steps of making at least one hole in the bone by means of a bone drill. An implant is placed on the bone in a desired position and joining the implant with the bone, such that the implant is prevented from rotation about its attachment point. A system is provided for use in the above described method. The system comprises a bone drill, an implant and a sonotrode for angularly stable fixation of the implant on the bone. The system can further comprise a joining element to join the implant with the bone.

Abstract: A device for the anchoring of a suture in tissue includes a guide sleeve, a sonotrode, an anchor and the suture. The guide sleeve has a distal part with a smaller cross section and a proximal part with a larger cross section. The sonotrode extends through the lumen of the guide sleeve and has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being designed for coupling the sonotrode to a vibration source (e.g. an ultrasonic device). The anchor is arranged at the distal end of the device and includes an anchor foot and an anchoring sleeve sitting on a shoulder of the anchor foot. The anchoring sleeve consists of a material which is liquefiable through mechanical vibrations. A middle portion of the suture runs through the anchor foot and two end portions of the suture are attached to the guide sleeve.

Abstract: An anchoring element that provides anchorage in an object, and is compressible in the direction of a compression axis under local enlargement of a distance between a peripheral anchoring element surface and the compression axis. The anchoring element has a coupling-in face which serves for coupling the mechanical vibrations into the anchoring element, which coupling-in face is not parallel to the compression axis. The anchoring element further includes a thermoplastic material which in areas of the peripheral surface enlargement forms at least a part of the surface of the anchoring element.

Abstract: An anchoring device including an anchoring element suitable for being anchored an object of construction material with the aid of mechanical vibrations. The anchoring element includes a thermoplastic material and a tool. The thermoplastic material forms at least a part of a radially outer surface of the anchoring element, and the tool has a proximal portion and a broadening portion distally of the proximal portion. The broadening portion has an outer second cross-section, the second cross section being larger than the first cross section but being adapted to the first cross section so that the tool can be moved with respect to the anchoring element while the broadening portion is in the axially-extending opening and locally expands the anchoring element while thermoplastic material of the anchoring element that surrounds the broadening portion is in a solid state.