Patent ID: 8834542
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61B,F04C

Abstract:
1. A method for fixating a suture anchor or a headed anchor in hard tissue with the aid of in situ liquefaction of a material having thermoplastic properties, the method comprising the steps of: providing a device for fixating a suture anchor or a headed anchor in hard tissue with the aid of in situ liquefaction of a material having thermoplastic properties, the device including an anchor foot with a distal end being equipped for being forced into or through hard tissue, a tool with a distal end being connected or connectable to the proximal end of the anchor foot, a thermoplastic sleeve comprising the material having thermoplastic properties, a vibration source with a proximal end of the tool being coupled or couplable to the vibration source, and a switching means, wherein the thermoplastic sleeve is adapted to sit on a proximal face of the anchor foot with the tool or a proximal portion of the anchor foot extending through the thermoplastic sleeve, wherein the connection between the distal end of the tool and the anchor foot is capable of being disconnected and is equipped for being able to transmit a compressive and a tensile force as well as mechanical vibration from the tool to the anchor foot, wherein the vibration source is capable of selectively producing at least two different vibration modes, and the switching means is equipped for switching the vibration source from one of the at least two vibration modes into an other of said at least two vibration modes; forcing the anchor foot being connected to the distal end of the vibration tool into the hard tissue by applying a pushing force to the vibration tool; anchoring the anchor in the hard tissue by vibrating the tool and applying a compressive force to the thermoplastic sleeve, while keeping the anchor foot in the same position or moving it in a direction towards a hard tissue surface for in situ liquefaction of the of the material having thermoplastic properties; and stopping vibration of the tool and disconnecting the tool from the anchor foot and removing the tool from the anchor foot; wherein, in the forcing step, a first vibration mode is used and wherein, in the anchoring step, a second vibration mode is used, said second vibration mode being different from the first vibration mode.