WOODWELDING AG Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150182210 | ASSEMBLY FOR AUGMENTING HARD TISSUE - 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. | 07-02-2015 |
20150142051 | THREAD ANCHOR - A method and a device for anchoring a suture to an object includes a shuttle and a pin made of a material which can be liquefied by means of ultrasonic vibrations. A suture is attached to a rear end of the pin. The shuttle has a shuttle body, a shuttle arm and a suture reception, wherein the shuttle arm is suitable for releasably holding the pin in a predetermined position relative to the shuttle body such that the pin can be reliably introduced into a hole in an object. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142003 | SYSTEM FOR HANDLING AN AUGMENTATION IMPLANT - 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. | 05-21-2015 |
20150024343 | DIVERSION OF MECHANICAL OSCILLATIONS - A device 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 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 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. | 01-22-2015 |
20140237939 | METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD - A method of anchoring a joining element to a hollow core board with the aid of mechanical vibration. The hollow core board has a first and second outer layers and a middle layer disposed between the outer layers. An opening, including a mouth, is provided in the hollow core board, the opening penetrating the first outer layer and the middle layer. The joining element includes a wall anchoring portion situated between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. A distal end of the wall anchoring portion is positioned into or onto the mouth with a sealing portion on a proximal end of the wall anchoring portion. The wall anchoring portion is forced through the mouth by applying mechanical vibration and a force parallel to the joining element axis, whereby thermoplastic material of the wall anchoring portion is liquefied and pressed into the first outer layer. | 08-28-2014 |
20140214037 | METHOD AND IMPLANT FOR STABILIZING SEPARATED BONE PORTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER - An implant for stabilizing two separated bone portions relative to each other an implant includes a peg, a bridge assembly and a securing element. The peg and bridge assembly include at least two peg portions and a bridge portion, wherein the bridge portion is arranged between the peg portions and wherein the peg and bridge portions are rigidly connected. The peg and bridge assembly is positioned relative to the bone portions such that one peg portion extends into the bone tissue of each one of the bone portions and the bridge portion extends across the gap separating the bone portions. The securing element is anchored in the bone tissue of one of the bone portions, its proximal end extending through an opening in an assembly portion extending parallel to a bone surface or across a notch in a proximal edge of an assembly portion. | 07-31-2014 |
20140107702 | DEVICE FOR ANCHORING A SUTURE IN TISSUE - 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. | 04-17-2014 |
20140075736 | ANCHORING IN A CONSTRUCTION MODEL - 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. | 03-20-2014 |
20140057067 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LIGHTWEIGHT COMPONENT, AND SUPPORT ELEMENT - A lightweight component is equipped with two cover layers, which are made of a wood material, and a filling disposed in between the layers after cutting everything to size, having an edge support including thermoplastic material. The edge support is anchored in both the first and second cover layers starting from the narrow side. Anchoring is achieved by bringing the edge support into contact with the respective cover layer and coupling mechanical vibrations into the edge support by a sonotrode engaging from the narrow side. The edge support at the same time is pressed against the cover layer such that, in the region of a transition between the thermoplastic material and the wood material of the cover layer, part of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pushed into the cover layer material, thereby producing a positively engaged anchoring after hardening. | 02-27-2014 |
20140044476 | METHOD OF ANCHORING A CONNECTOR, AND CONNECTOR - A connector and a method of anchoring the connector to a first object that includes providing the connector having a sleeve element and a piston element with a shaft portion, providing a through hole in the first object, and inserting the connector through the through hole and until a distal portion of one of the sleeve and/or the piston element rests against the second object. Mechanical oscillations are coupled into the piston element while the piston element is pressed towards the distal side, and thereby liquefying portions a thermoplastic material at an interface portion between the sleeve element and the piston element while a periphery of the interface portion is adjacent the circumferential wall, and causing the liquefied thermoplastic material to flow radially outward from the periphery and into structures of the first object and/or along an inner surface. | 02-13-2014 |
20140039474 | LIGHT DIFFUSER AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - 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. | 02-06-2014 |
20130304135 | SYSTEM FOR INSERTING A PIN INTO A SCREW - System for inserting an augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, comprising a pin inserter with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening, a pin-magazine with a pin-retainer for an augmentation pin, wherein the pin-magazine may be placed in the lateral opening of the pin-inserter and an augmentation pin in the pin-retainer may be aligned with the axial through-bore. The augmentation pin may be pushed by means of a pusher from the pin-magazine into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation screw is arranged in front of the pin-inserter. | 11-14-2013 |
20130302086 | METHOD OF FIXATION FOR A MECHANICAL DOWEL - An anchoring method of anchoring an anchoring element in a construction object is provided, where a surface of which object has at least one of pores in a surface, structures in a surface (such as an arrangement of ridges with undercut), a inhomogeneous characteristic with makes the penetration of a surface by a liquid under pressure possible, thereby creating pores filed by the liquid underneath the surface, and of a cavity. The method includes the steps of: providing a first element and a second element, the first element comprising a thermoplastic material; positioning the first element in a vicinity of said surface and/or of said cavity, respectively, and positioning the second element in contact with the first element; and causing a third element to vibrate while loading the first element with a force, thereby applying mechanical vibrations to the first element, and simultaneously loading the first element with a counter-force by the second element. | 11-14-2013 |
20130251443 | ANCHORING IN A CONSTRUCTION MODEL - 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. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251442 | ANCHORING IN A CONSTRUCTION MODEL - 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. | 09-26-2013 |
20130226252 | METHOD AND IMPLANT FOR STABILIZING TWO BONE PORTIONS SEPARATED BY A CUT OR FRACTURE - In a human or animal patient, two bone portions separated by a cut or fracture are stabilized in a desired position relative to each other by bringing the two bone portions into this desired position, by pulling them against each other, by providing an opening having a mouth on a bone surface and reaching across the cut or fracture and walls in both bone portions, by inserting an implant into the opening and anchoring the implant in the walls of the opening with the aid of a material having thermoplastic properties and energy transmitted into the implant for in situ liquefaction of at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties. One exemplary application of the stabilizing procedure concerns the two tibial bone portions separated by tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in a canine patient suffering from cranial cruciate ligament damage or rupture in a stifle joint. | 08-29-2013 |
20130144299 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN ANCHORAGE IN HUMAN OR ANIMAL TISSUE - 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 includes 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 contact 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. | 06-06-2013 |
20130139956 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FASTENING AN ITEM TO AN OBJECT SURFACE MADE OF A POROUS OR FIBROUS MATERIAL - Objects are fastened to object surfaces of a porous or fibrous material, in particular made of wood or a wood-like material, with the aid of a thermoplastic fastening film. For this, the object, which is separate from, or integrated in the fastening film, is positioned on the object surface and, with the aid of a vibrating fastening tool having a distally arranged, for example closed, perimetric profile element, which is positioned on the fastening film, is anchored in the object surface along a perimeter, and optionally also punched out. The fastening is suitable in particular for fastening identification carriers to wooden objects such as pallets or tree trunks, wherein the identification carriers are equipped, for example, with an antenna and an RFID chip or with a bar code. | 06-06-2013 |
20130123928 | METHOD FOR FASTENING AN IMPLANT TO BONE TISSUE AND CORRESPONDING IMPLANT SYSTEM - 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 ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130066384 | IMPLANTS FOR CREATING CONNECTIONS TO TISSUE PARTS, IN PARTICULAR TO SKELETAL PARTS, AS WELL AS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTATION THEREOF - Implants 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 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, an oscillating element, and a resonator. The generator causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator. The resonator is used to press the implant against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant. | 03-14-2013 |
20130060265 | IMPLANTS FOR CREATING CONNECTIONS TO TISSUE PARTS, IN PARTICULAR TO SKELETAL PARTS, AS WELL AS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTATION THEREOF - Implants 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 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, an oscillating element, and a resonator. The generator causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator. The resonator is used to press the implant against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant. | 03-07-2013 |
20130004917 | AFFIXING AN ARTIFICIAL ELEMENT TO A SURFACE OF DENTINE, ENAMEL, BONE, OR A CORRESPONDING SUBSTITUTE MATERIAL - 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:
| 01-03-2013 |
20120291262 | METHOD FOR JOINING TWO OBJECTS AND CORRESPONDING JOINING ELEMENT - A first and a second object are joined with the aid of a joining element including at least in the region of its distal and proximal ends a thermoplastic material. Two blind holes facing each other are provided in the two objects and the joining element is positioned in the blind holes such that its distal and proximal ends are in contact with the bottom faces of the blind holes and such that there is a gap between the two objects. This assembly is then positioned between a support and a sonotrode. The sonotrode and the support are forced towards each other, while the sonotrode is vibrated, thereby liquefying at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties, there, where the joining element ends are pressed against the bottom faces of the holes and allowing the liquefied material to infiltrate into pores. | 11-22-2012 |
20120253105 | METHOD OF ANCHORING AN ACOUSTIC ELEMENT IN A BONE OF THE CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL REGION AND ACOUSTIC ELEMENT - 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. | 10-04-2012 |
20120159751 | ANCHORING IN A CONSTRUCTION MODEL - 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. | 06-28-2012 |
20120123467 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING A MATERIAL WITH THERMOPLATIC PROPERTIES IN A FLOWABLE STATE AT AN OPERATION SITE IN A HUMAN OR ANIMAL PATIENT - 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. | 05-17-2012 |
20110296788 | METHOD OF ANCHORING A CONNECTOR, AND CONNECTOR - A method of anchoring a connector in a lightweight building element is provided. The connector includes a sleeve element and a piston element with a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is guided by the sleeve element. The piston element and/or the sleeve element includes a thermoplastic material at least at an interface portion between the head portion and the sleeve portion. The method includes the steps of providing the connector, of providing a through hole in the first building layer of the lightweight building element, of inserting the connector through the through hole and until a distal portion rests against the second building layer. Therein, it may be the sleeve element or the piston element or both, the sleeve element and the piston element that rest(s) against the second building layer. | 12-08-2011 |
20110272078 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LIGHTWEIGHT COMPONENT, AND SUPPORT ELEMENT - The lightweight component is equipped with two cover layers, which are made of a wood material, for example, and a filling disposed in between said layers after cutting everything to size, having an edge support comprising thermoplastic material. This is done in that the edge support is anchored both in the first cover layer and in the second cover layer starting from the narrow side, wherein the anchoring is achieved in that the edge support is brought into contact with the respective cover layer and mechanical vibrations are coupled into the edge support by a sonotrode engaging from the narrow side, wherein the edge support at the same time is pressed against the cover layer such that in the region of a transition between the thermoplastic material and the wood material of the cover layer part of the thermoplastic material is liquefied and pushed into the cover layer material, thereby producing a positively engaged anchoring after hardening. | 11-10-2011 |
20110206448 | METHOD FOR JOINING TWO OBJECTS AND CORRESPONDING JOINING ELEMENT - A first and a second object ( | 08-25-2011 |
20110118744 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING AN ANCHORAGE IN TISSUE - A perforated sheath is anchored in a tissue opening with the aid of a tool, wherein the anchorage is achieved with the aid of mechanical vibration and a material which is liquefiable by the vibration. The tool includes a vibrating element and a counter element. Distal portions of both elements are introduced into the sheath to be in contact with each other at an interface. The vibrating element is connected to a vibration source and the vibrating element and the counter element are held against each other for effecting liquefaction of the liquefiable material at the interface. Under the effect of the force applied to the vibrating and counter element for holding them against each other, the liquefied material flows from the interface through the sheath perforation and penetrates the tissue. | 05-19-2011 |
20110062617 | METHOD OF FIXATION FOR A MECHANICAL DOWELL - An anchoring method of anchoring an anchoring element in a construction object is provided, where a surface of which object has at least one of pores in a surface, structures in a surface(such as an arrangement of ridges with undercut), a inhomogeneous characteristic with makes the penetration of a surface by a liquid under pressure possible, thereby creating pores filed by the liquid underneath the surface, and of a cavity. The method includes the steps of: providing a first element and a second element, the first element comprising a thermoplastic material; positioning the first element in a vicinity of said surface and/or of said cavity, respectively, and positioning the second element in contact with the first element; and causing a third element to vibrate while loading the first element with a force, thereby applying mechanical vibrations to the first element, and simultaneously loading the first element with a counter-force by the second element. | 03-17-2011 |
20110046670 | DEVICE FOR ANCHORING A SUTURE IN TISSUE - 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. The anchoring sleeve is clamped or clampable between the anchor foot and a pushing sleeve or the sonotrode or the guide sleeve. The device is particularly suitable for the anchoring of sutures in bone tissue. | 02-24-2011 |
20100313517 | METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD - A joining element to be anchored in an object with the aid of a thermoplastic material and mechanical vibration comprises a sealing portion and a wall anchoring portion. The sealing portion is substantially cylindrical and has a smooth circumferential surface. The wall anchoring portion has a circumferential surface which comprises the thermoplastic material and energy directors. A cross section of the sealing portion envelops the cross section (including energy directors) of the wall anchoring portion and is arranged adjoining to the latter on its proximal side. The joining element is anchored in an opening provided in the object wherein a cross section of the opening corresponds to the cross section of the sealing portion of the joining element such that the latter can be forced into a mouth of the opening resulting in a press fit. For anchoring the joining element in the opening, mechanical vibrations e.g. ultrasonic vibrations are coupled into the joining element and the latter is forced into the opening until at least a distal part of the sealing portion is positioned within the opening. Thereby, the thermoplastic material of the circumferential surface of the wall anchoring portion is liquefied and pressed into the opening wall, wherein the sealing portion prevents the liquefied material to penetrate through the mouth and therefore the mouth remains clear cut, i.e. does not get blurred by the liquefied material. | 12-16-2010 |
20100179654 | DIVERSION OF MECHANICAL OSCILLATIONS - 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. | 07-15-2010 |
20100081110 | METHOD FOR AFFIXING AN ARTIFICIAL ELEMENT TO A SURFACE OF DENTINE, ENAMEL, BONE, OR A CORRESPONDING SUBSTITUTE MATERIAL, AND SET FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | 04-01-2010 |
20100043345 | ANCHORING IN A CONSTRUCTION MODEL - 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. | 02-25-2010 |
20100023057 | DEVICE TO BE IMPLANTED IN HUMAN OR ANIMAL TISSUE AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING AND ASSEMBLING THE DEVICE - An implant or endoprosthesis suitable to be implanted in human or animal tissue comprises two (or more than two) parts to be joined in situ. Each one of the parts comprises 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 comprises a material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration and the other one of the joining locations comprises 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 pressing the two device parts against each other and by applying vibration, e.g. 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. Preferably, at least one of the device parts is fixed to the tissue before or during the joining process. Such fixing is advantageously effected with the aid of a further liquefiable material and mechanical vibration which results in an anchorage of the part by interpenetration of the tissue by the liquefiable material. | 01-28-2010 |
20090318912 | LIGHT DIFFUSER AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - A light diffuser ( | 12-24-2009 |
20090317768 | IMPLANT, METHOD OF PREPARING AN IMPLANT, IMPLANTATION METHOD, AND KIT OF PARTS - 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. | 12-24-2009 |
20090131947 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN ANCHORAGE IN HUMAN OR ANIMAL TISSUE - 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. | 05-21-2009 |
20090018560 | METHOD FOR FASTENING AN IMPLANT TO BONE TISSUE AND CORRESPONDING IMPLANT SYSTEM - 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 ( | 01-15-2009 |
20080275500 | IMPLANTS FOR CREATING CONNECTIONS TO TISSUE PARTS, IN PARTICULAR TO SKELETAL PARTS, AS WELL AS DEVICE AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTATION THEREOF | 11-06-2008 |
20080199249 | METHOD FOR ANCHORING A JOINING ELEMENT IN AN OBJECT AND JOINING ELEMENT TO BE USED IN THE METHOD - A joining element to be anchored in an object ( | 08-21-2008 |