Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

Abstract: An implant or endoprosthesis suitable to be implanted in human or animal tissue includes two (or more than two) parts to be joined in situ. Each one of the parts includes a joining location, the two joining locations facing each other when the device parts are positioned for being joined together, wherein one of the joining locations includes a material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration and the other one of the joining locations includes a material which is not liquefiable by mechanical vibration and a structure (e.g. undercut cavities or protrusions) suitable for forming a positive fit connection with the liquefiable material. The joining process is effected by pressing the two device parts against each other and by applying ultrasonic vibration to one of the device parts when the two parts are positioned relative to each other such that the two joining locations are in contact with each other.

Abstract: A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

Abstract: A method of bonding a first object to a second object, including the steps of: providing a profile body having a first profile body portion; providing the first object, wherein the first object has thermoplastic material; providing the second object, wherein the profile body is separate from and attachable to the second object or wherein the second object includes the profile body; embedding the profile body in the first object such that the first profile body portion is within the thermoplastic material of the first object. Embedding the profile body in the first object is caused by mechanical energy impinging on the first object and/or on the second object while the first object and the second object are pressed against each other.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a connector in a heterogeneous first object that includes a first building layer and, distally of the first building layer, an interlining layer. The method includes providing the first object and the connector, which includes thermoplastic material in a solid state; contacting the connector with the first building layer; applying a first mechanical pressing force to the connector until the first building layer is pierced by the connector and a distal portion of the connector reaches into the interlining layer; applying a second mechanical pressing force and mechanical vibration to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates structures of the first object, and a distally facing abutment face of the head portion abuts against the metal profile in a region next to the opening; and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection.

Abstract: A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

Abstract: A sonotrode includes a stem extending along a longitudinal axis and a cap configured to carry out an ablative process on tissue using mechanical oscillation. The cap has at least one portion that protrudes further in a radial direction than the stem, and the at least one portion has at least one sharp rim. A surface of the cap, which is arranged between a distal end of the stem and the sharp rim of the portion, is a concave surface and/or runs at an opening angle with respect to the stem that is equal or smaller than 90 degrees. A center of mass of the cap is on the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A sonotrode suitable for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument for cutting or punching bones, as well as a method for manufacturing the sonotrode.

Abstract: The relates to a method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object and includes the steps of: providing the first object including thermoplastic material in a solid state, providing the second object with a generally flat sheet portion having an edge, positioning the first object relative to the second object and bringing the first object and the second object to a relative movement to each other. The relative movement includes a rotational movement, such that a melting zone including flowable thermoplastic material is formed and such that thermoplastic material of the melting zone flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. The invention further concerns a connector that is suitable for being used in a method according to the invention.

Abstract: A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

Abstract: An EEG headpiece includes an array of electrode pins, each electrode pin extending between a proximal end, formed by a proximal end face, and a distal end and including a conducting electrode and a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is arranged at least around a periphery of the electrode pin or is pressable from a hollow space to the periphery. Each electrode pin is equipped for the transmission of energy, especially mechanical vibration energy, from the proximal end face to the thermoplastic material to liquefy at least portions of the thermoplastic material from a solid state to a flowable state, whereby the thermoplastic material is capable of flowing into structures of a tissue portion surrounding the periphery and of forming, after re-solidification of the thermoplastic material, an anchoring of the electrode pin in the tissue portion.

Abstract: A method and suture anchor for treatment of spinal stenosis. The method includes the steps of cutting off a muscle origin or insertion from a spinous process, cutting off the spinous process at the transition to the lamina arcus vertebrae, at least partial resection of the lamina arcus vertebrae and thereby decompression of the spinal cord within the foramen vertebral, performing osteosynthesis of the spinous process, and placing a suture anchor within the spinous process and reattaching the muscle origin or insertion to the spinous process. Further methods for spine stabilization are provided wherein suture anchors are used to implement a tension band wiring. Further methods for reduction of unwanted effects after spinal treatment are provided.

Abstract: A spine stabilization device having an interbody spacer shaped to be inserted between a vertebral body of an upper vertebra and a vertebral body of a lower vertebra. The device further includes a fixation device to be inserted after placement of the interbody spacer, the fixation device having a support portion securing the interbody spacer against escaping from between the vertebral bodies into a ventral direction. The support portion rests against a portion of an anterior surface of the interbody spacer, and includes an anchor. The anchor has an anchoring material portion that is inserted, in a liquid state, into cancellous bone tissue of at least one of the vertebral bodies of the upper and lower vertebra, to thereby infiltrate the cancellous bone tissue, and to harden thereafter so as to fix the support portion to the vertebral body.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus generates energy that is input onto an appliance. The appliance is one of an implant to be implanted in human or animal bone tissue by the input of the energy, and of a tool being an ultrasonic bone cutting and/or punching tool for cutting and/or punching living human or animal bone tissue by input of energy onto the implant in a surgical operation. The apparatus includes a control device and at least one handpiece, the handpiece being equipped to be held by a surgeon during the operation and to couple the energy into the appliance. The apparatus further includes a reading device equipped to read out, from an appliance data carrier, appliance data dedicated to the appliance. The control device checks, depending on the appliance data, whether the handpiece is suitable for the appliance and chooses operating parameters depending on the appliance data.

Abstract: A method of mechanically connecting a connector to a first object includes providing the first object having an opening, providing a first connector element, a second connector element, and thermoplastic material in a solid state, placing the first and second connector elements relative to the opening, causing energy to impinge on the thermoplastic material until at least a portion thereof becomes flowable and flows relative to the first and second connector elements until it is in direct (intimate) contact with both the first and second connector elements, and causing the thermoplastic material to re-solidify (for example by letting the thermoplastic material to cool down to room temperature). The re-solidified thermoplastic material locks the first and second connector elements relative to one another to yield a connector assembly that is anchored in the opening by the thermoplastic material and/or by the locking of the first and second connector elements.

Abstract: A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object, which includes a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object, which includes a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut such that the second object can make a positive-fit connection with the first object; and pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool. The step of pressing and coupling vibrations into the tool continues until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object. Thereafter, the thermoplastic material of the first object is permitted to re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects.

Abstract: A connector, which is configured to be anchored in a first object with thermoplastic material, defines a proximodistal axis and has a plate portion extending around the proximodistal axis and having a proximal face and a distal face, the proximal face being adapted for a tool to be pressed thereagainst. The connector further includes an attachment structure accessible from the proximal side of the plate portion and/or an interaction element having a sensor and/or actuator. An anchoring skirt protrudes distally from the plate portion and distally and radially outwardly, whereby an outer pocket open towards radially outwardly is formed between the distal face of the plate portion and a proximal face of the anchoring skirt, and an inner pocket open towards distally is formed radially inwardly of the anchoring skirt. The plate portion extends radially further than the anchoring skirt.

Abstract: An implant system that is designed to be fastened to a posterior side of a spinal column. The implant system includes an implant body, for example a plate, and a plurality of fasteners. The implant body has a fastening structure for each fastener. Each fastener extends between a proximal end and a distal end and includes a thermoplastic material in a solid state, the thermoplastic material being liquefiable by energy impinging on the fastener, in an anchoring process, in which the fastener is pressed against bone tissue by a pressing force acting from a proximal side, and in which energy is coupled into the fastener to at least partially liquefy the thermoplastic material, wherein a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is pressed into bone tissue and, after re-solidification, anchors the fastener in the bone tissue.

Abstract: A medical that is 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 device for cutting bone tissue and, more particularly, a sonotrode suitable for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The sonotrode has a head and a distal end piece, the distal end piece being equipped as a rectangular blade for cutting bones using mechanical vibration. The sonotrode has at least one structural element and the structural element is selected from the group including: a support structure, a lateral depression on each side, an increased width of the blade together with a slit at the distal end of the blade, or at least one lateral rib.