Abstract: A method of fastening an edge structure to a construction element includes providing the construction element, being a planar structure with two cover regions and a middle region between the cover regions; providing the edge structure being continuously extended, the edge structure having contact surfaces with a thermoplastic material shaped to lie against the cover regions in an outer surface of the construction element, and, opposite the contact surfaces, a coupling-in surface for coupling energy into the edge structure; coupling energy into the edge structure and pressing the contact surfaces against the cover regions until at least a portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pressed into the cover regions; and repeating or continuing the steps of coupling and pressing until the edge structure is attached to the building element at a plurality of discrete locations or over an extended region along an edge of the construction element.

Abstract: An adaptor is secured to a first object. The adaptor includes an anchoring part and an adjustment part. The anchoring part includes a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface. The adjustment part has a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface. The first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical. Thereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is defined by the relative orientation of the adjustment part with respect to the common axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface. This is used to adjust the z position of the adjustment part relative to the first object, in connection with the orientation of the adjustment part being defined and possibly fixed by the function of the adaptor/the adjustment part.

Abstract: A method of fastening an edge structure to a construction element includes providing the construction element, being a planar structure with with two cover regions and a middle region between the cover regions; providing the edge structure being continuously extended, the edge structure having contact surfaces with a thermoplastic material shaped to lie against the cover regions in an outer surface of the construction element, and, opposite the contact surfaces, a coupling-in surface for coupling energy into the edge structure; coupling energy into the edge structure and pressing the contact surfaces against the cover regions until at least a portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pressed into the cover regions; and repeating or continuing the steps of coupling and pressing until the edge structure is attached to the building element at a plurality of discrete locations or over an extended region along an edge of the construction element.

Abstract: A method for joining a device to an object with the aid of a combination of ultrasonic vibration energy and induction heating, wherein the device includes a portion of a thermoplastic polymer and a susceptor additive wherein this portion is at least partly liquefied or plasticized through the ultrasonic vibration energy in combination with the induction heating and wherein the joining includes establishing a connection between the device and the object which connection is at least one of a positive fit connection, a weld, a press fit connection, and an adhesive connection. The induction heating is applied for rendering the device portion suitable for absorption of ultrasonic vibration energy than other device portions by raising its temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The ultrasonic vibration energy is used for liquefying or at least plasticizing the thermoplastic polymer of the named device portion.

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: An adaptor for anchoring a second object with respect to a first object includes an anchoring part and an adjustment part. The anchoring part includes a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface, and the adjustment part includes a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface. The anchoring part and the adjustment part define a common axis, and the first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical with respect to the axis, whereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is adjustable by rotating the adjustment part relative to the anchoring part around the axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface.

Abstract: An adaptor is secured to a first object. The adaptor includes an anchoring part and an adjustment part. The anchoring part includes a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface. The adjustment part has a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface. The first control surface or the second control surface or both is/are helical. Thereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is defined by the relative orientation of the adjustment part with respect to the common axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface.

Abstract: An adaptor for securing a second object includes an anchoring part and an adjustment part, wherein the anchoring part includes a distally facing anchoring surface and a proximally facing first control surface. The adjustment part has a distally facing second control surface positioned to abut against the first control surface. The anchoring part and the adjustment part define a common axis that is not perpendicular to the z direction, wherein the first control surface and possibly also the second control surface is/are helical with respect to the axis. Thereby a relative z position of the adjustment part with respect to the anchoring part is defined by the relative orientation of the adjustment part with respect to the common axis while the second control surface abuts against the first control surface.

Abstract: A method of fastening an edge structure to a construction element includes providing the construction element, being a planar structure with with two cover regions and a middle region between the cover regions; providing the edge structure being continuously extended, the edge structure having contact surfaces with a thermoplastic material shaped to lie against the cover regions in an outer surface of the construction element, and, opposite the contact surfaces, a coupling-in surface for coupling energy into the edge structure; coupling energy into the edge structure and pressing the contact surfaces against the cover regions until at least a portion of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pressed into the cover regions; and repeating or continuing the steps of coupling and pressing until the edge structure is attached to the building element at a plurality of discrete locations or over an extended region along an edge of the construction element.

Abstract: A light diffuser, which is particularly suitable for introducing diffuse light into a tissue, is produced by interpenetration of a diffuser material in a liquid state into a boundary layer of a porous shaping material, by which process a diffuser surface is formed having a surface structure which represents essentially a negative of the pore structure of the shaping material and includes undercut structures induced by a surface tension. The light diffuser is e.g. produced by introducing a diffuser blank including material that is liquefiable through mechanical vibration into the shaping material and simultaneously stimulating it with mechanical vibrations, such that the liquefiable material liquefies at least there where it is in contact with the shaping material and is pressed into the shaping material. An in situ production of the diffuser is particularly advantageous for photodynamic therapy in bone tissue.

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: A punching device for preparing a recess in a bone has a punching tool usable for such a punching device. An implant usable with the punching tool is provided and a method for preparing a recess in a bone are disclosed. The punching device comprises an ultrasonic sonotrode and a punching tool which is fixable to the sonotrode at its proximal extremity. At its distal extremity, the punching tool has a thin-walled portion having a non-rotational symmetric cross-section. By ultrasonic vibration of the punching tool, the thin-walled portion can be forced into a bone thereby preparing a recess of which is not rotationally symmetric. Subsequently, an implant can be held in such recess. Due to its lack of rotational symmetry, the implant may absorb rotational forces around its longitudinal axis.

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: A first object is anchored in a second object. The first object has a material with thermoplastic properties, and the second material has a material that is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state. The second object has an insertion face with an opening having a mouth in the insertion face, and the first object has an insert portion that for anchoring is placed in the opening or about the mouth thereof. For anchoring, energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material impinges in an amount and for a time sufficient for at least partial liquefaction of the first material and interpenetration of the first and second materials. The second object, around the opening, has an anisotropic strength with respect to forces perpendicular to the opening axis.

Abstract: A joining element has an anchoring portion for in-depth anchoring in the object and a head portion arranged proximally of the anchoring portion with respect to an insertion axis. The head portion has a lateral outer surface that has a structure that is well-defined, especially within tight tolerances. The joining element is positioned relative to an object of a non-liquefiable material such that the anchoring portion reaches into an opening of the object or is placed adjacent a mouth thereof. Then, the joining element is pressed towards a distal direction, to press the anchoring portion into the opening, while mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the joining element by a tool, in an amount and for a time sufficient for liquefaction of a portion of the thermoplastic material to cause interpenetration of the thermoplastic material into structures of the object.

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: 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 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: 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 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.