Patent ID: 9510861
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method of anchoring an implant in tissue, wherein the tissue is hard tissue, hard tissue replacement material, or a combination of hard tissue and hard tissue replacement material, the method comprising the steps of: providing an opening in the tissue; providing a thermoplastic augmentation element, a tool and a counter element; compressing the augmentation element between the tool and the counter element and at the same time coupling energy into the tool, the augmentation element or into both the tool and the augmentation element, while a circumferential periphery of at least one liquefaction interface is within the opening in the tissue and at least partially surrounded by a circumferential wall of the opening in the tissue, wherein: allowing the liquefied material displaced outwardly by compression of the augmentation element between the tool and the counter element, including the portions caused to penetrate into one or both of structures of the tissue and structures of the element connected to the tissue, to harden and to thereby become augmentation material; removing the tool and the counter element from the opening; and inserting the implant into the opening containing the hardened augmentation material to thereby anchor the implant, at least in part, in the hardened augmentation material.