Abstract: A method suitable for anchoring an anchoring element in an object, which anchoring element 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, the method includes the steps of: providing a bore in the object; positioning the anchoring element in the bore; and coupling the compressing force and the mechanical vibrations through the coupling-in face into the positioned anchoring element.

Abstract: An anchorage in tissue is produced by holding a vibrating element and a counter element against each other such that their contact faces are in contact with each other, wherein at least one of the contact faces comprises a thermoplastic material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration. While holding and then moving the two elements against each other, the vibrating element is vibrated and due to the vibration the thermoplastic material is liquefied between the contract faces, and due to the relative movement is made to flow from between the contact faces and to penetrate tissue located adjacent to outer edges of the contact faces. For liquefaction of the thermoplastic material and for displacing it from between the contact faces no force needs to act on the tissue surface which is to be penetrated by the liquefied material. For this reason anchorage in tissue which has little mechanical stability is possible.

Abstract: An implant designed e.g. as a replacement for an articulating surface of a human or animal joint is secured to the bone tissue with the aid of a plurality of fasteners (3). The implant (2) comprises a bone side to be brought into contact with the bone tissue, which bone side is equipped with a plurality of fastening structures restricted to this bone side. The fasteners (3) comprise a distal and a proximal side, wherein the distal side is equipped for being anchored in bone tissue and the proximal side is equipped for being connected with one of the fastening structures of the implant (2). The distal sides of the fasteners (3) are anchored in the bone tissue of the appropriately prepared bone and the implant (2) is then attached to the anchored fasteners (3) by connecting the fastening structures with the proximal sides of the fasteners (3), wherein the implant (2) is pressed against the proximal sides of the anchored fasteners (3).

Abstract: A graft or prosthetic element suitable e.g. for replacing a tendon or ligament is fastened in a bone tunnel or blind opening with the aid of a fastener. In a first step, the graft or prosthetic element is press-fitted in the tunnel or opening by forcing the fastener into the opening or by positioning the fastener in the opening and then expanding it, wherein the fastener is in contact with the graft or prosthetic element and with the bone wall of the tunnel or blind opening. In a second step, the fastener is anchored in the bone wall of the tunnel or blind opening with the aid of a liquefiable material which is liquefied in the vicinity of the bone wall where it is in contact with the fastener and by making the liquefied material penetrate into the bone wall.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a medical method of affixing an element to a surface of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or corresponding substitute material is provided, the method comprising the steps of: Providing an attachment composition, the attachment composition comprising a mixture of: A thermoplastic component; and A hardenable (for example curable) component, the hardenable component being different from the thermoplastic component; Positioning the attachment composition relative to the surface of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or corresponding substitute material; and Activating the attachment composition to attach to the surface or to attach to the element positioned relative to the surface; Wherein the step of activating the attachment composition comprises activating the attachment composition by means of mechanical vibration.

Abstract: Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).

Abstract: A method for producing an implant including the following steps is provided:-providing a core element having a first material;-providing a negative mold of the implant;-inserting the core element and at least one anchoring element made of a second material into the negative mold, wherein the second material is thermoplastic,-closing the negative mold and applying an elevated deformation temperature, wherein at the deformation temperature the second material is plastically deformable, viscous, or liquid and the first material is solid,-cooling the negative mold together with the core element and the anchoring element, and-removing the resulting implant from the core element and the anchoring element from the negative mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated implantation of an implant or for an automated augmentation process of hard tissue and/or hard tissue replacement material using a sheath element is provided. The apparatus comprises a casing, a converter operable to generate mechanical vibrations the converter inside the casing and displaceable in a longitudinal direction relative to the casing, and a sonotrode coupled to an output location of the converter. A shaft portion with a retention structure is rotationally coupled to the casing and is equipped for cooperating with a rotationally asymmetric element of the sheath element to rotationally couple the casing to the sheath element. An axial coupling is equipped for locking the casing to the sheath element. The shaft portion, the axial coupling and the sonotrode are mutually arranged so that the a distal end of the sonotrode may be introduced into a longitudinal opening of the sheath element.

Abstract: An acoustic element is implanted in a human bone of the craniomaxillofacial region with the aid of at least one anchor element including a material having thermoplastic properties, wherein for implantation of the acoustic element an opening is provided in the bone, the anchor element is positioned in the bone and energy is transmitted into the material having thermoplastic properties for at least partly liquefying the material and making it penetrate the bone tissue in the opening and on re-solidification to constitute a positive fit connection between the anchor element and the bone tissue. Depending on the design of the anchor element and/or on the relative dimensions of the opening and the anchor element it is possible to achieve an anchorage which either transmits sound between the acoustic element and the bone tissue or does not do so.

Abstract: A pedicle anchor device is provided and is equipped for being used like a pedicle screw, i.e. for being implanted in the vertebra from dorsal direction (but generally at an angle to the sagittal plane, slightly inward towards the sagittal plane) through the pedicle so that a distal portion of the device protrudes into the vertebral body. The pedicle anchor device includes a pedicle anchor device body with a head portion, a shaft portion and a longitudinal bore that extends from a proximal end of the pedicle anchor device body and has a hole or a plurality of holes from the longitudinal bore outward, for example radially outward.

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: A suture anchor retaining a suture is fixated in hard tissue, in particular in bone tissue, using any per se known method and is then secured using a securing element including a material having thermoplastic properties, which is liquefied in situ and made to penetrate the hard tissue in which the suture anchor is fixated. The securing element is e.g. a thermoplastic plug or thermoplastic sleeve which is anchored above the suture anchor in a mouth area of the same hard tissue opening. Alternatively the securing element is a thermoplastic pin which is introduced into an inner cavity of the suture anchor, wherein the material having thermoplastic properties is liquefied in this cavity and, in a liquid state is pressed through passages connecting the cavity with outer surfaces of the anchor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drug formulations for the stabilization of amorphous forms of drugs. In particular the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising sponge-like carrier matrices, particularly polyelectrolyte complexes or porous particles. The invention also relates to methods for the production of such pharmaceutical compositions.

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: Elements (5) such as dental fillings, inlays, dental veneers, root pins, implants to be implanted in bone tissue, or endoprostheses are affixed to surfaces (3) of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or a corresponding substitute material, by providing the element with element surfaces (6) including a first thermoplastic material, by equipping the surfaces (3) of dentine, tooth enamel, bone tissue, or a corresponding substitute material in a preparatory step in such a way that they become weldable with the first thermoplastic material, and by welding the element surfaces (6) to the pre-treated surfaces (3) by e.g. exciting the appropriately positioned element (5) with mechanical vibrations. The pre-treatment of the surfaces (3) in the preparatory step is achieved by attaching solid bodies (2) including a second thermoplastic material to the surfaces (3), with the aid of a curable compound (generally known for preparatory treatment of dentine or enamel surfaces) or with the aid of a cement.

Abstract: Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).

Abstract: Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).

Abstract: Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).

Abstract: A method suitable for anchoring an anchoring element in an object, which anchoring element 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, the method includes the steps of: providing a bore in the object; positioning the anchoring element in the bore; and coupling the compressing force and the mechanical vibrations through the coupling-in face into the positioned anchoring element.

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.