Patent ID: 7967820

Claim:
A method for stabilizing a bone having a cortex and a medullary canal, the method comprising: positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the bone, the elongate rod having a bonding region including polymeric material; forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone, the passageway extending from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone; positioning a fastener, the fastener having polymeric material at a leading portion, in the passageway of the cortex such that at least the leading portion of the fastener is in contact with the bonding region of the elongate rod, the bonding region generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex; and bonding the polymeric material of the fastener at the leading portion of the fastener to the polymeric material of the bonding region of the elongate rod, using ultrasonic energy, while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex, the bonding occurring at a bonding location, wherein the bonding location is free of any through holes.