Device to be implanted in human or animal tissue and method for implanting and assembling the device

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intervertebral element for being implanted between two vertebral bodies in order for the two vertebral bodies to be fused together and to be spaced from each other, the intervertebral element comprising:
 a first part being equipped for being positioned relative to a first one of the vertebral bodies,   and a second part being equipped for being positioned relative to a second one of the vertebral bodies,   and a further part, the further part being capable of being moved relative to the first and second parts when the first and second parts are positioned relative to the vertebral bodies, and thereby moving the first and second parts away from each other until a distance between the vertebral bodies is at a desired value,   wherein the further part is equipped for being secured relative to the first and second parts when the distance is at the desired value.   
     
     
         2 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part or the second part or both forms/form a wedge, whereby the first and second parts are capable of being moved away from each other by the further part being pushed between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 2 , wherein the first part and the second part each are a wedge, both being capable of being positioned against the bone tissue of the vertebral bodies on one side and of lying against the further part on an opposite side. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 3 , wherein the first part and the second part are substantially identical. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , comprising a fixation mechanism for fixing the position of the further part relative to the first and second parts when the distance is at the desired value. 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixation mechanism is capable of fixing the further part relative to the first and second parts at different relative positions. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 6 , wherein the different relative positions are continuously variable within a range. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 5 , wherein the further part is capable of being fixed relative to the first and second parts by a positive-fit connection. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 8 , wherein the further part comprises a further part inside channel originating from a proximal face and ending in at least one surface portion to be in contact with at least one of the first and second parts, the intervertebral element further comprising a material liquefiable with the aid of mechanical vibration capable of being positioned in the further part inside channel for being liquefied and being pressed into structures of the respective first/second part to yield, after re-solidification, a positive-fit connection between the further part and the respective first/second part. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first part and of the second part is capable of being secured relative to the vertebral body by a positive-fit connection. 
     
     
         11 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first part and of the second part is capable of being anchored relative to the respective vertebral body by the positive-fit connection. 
     
     
         12 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first part and of the second part is capable of being anchored relative to the respective vertebral body by a solid material liquefiable with the aid of mechanical vibration, by pressing the liquefiable material, in a flowable state, into bone tissue of the vertebral body to anchor, whereby after re-solidification of the liquefiable material, the first/second part is anchored relative to the respective vertebral body 
     
     
         13 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second parts for being anchored relative to the bone tissue comprise an first/second part inside channel originating from a proximal face and ending on a surface portion to face the bone tissue of the vertebral body, the intervertebral element further comprising the material liquefiable with the aid of mechanical vibration capable of being positioned in the first/second part inside channel for being liquefied and being pressed into bone tissue of the vertebral body to anchor, after re-solidification, the first/second part relative to the respective vertebral body. 
     
     
         14 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts are made of a non-liquefiable material. 
     
     
         15 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second parts comprises a structured, uneven surface portion facing the further part. 
     
     
         16 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 15 , wherein the structured, uneven surface portion comprises undercut structures. 
     
     
         17 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 1 , wherein the further part is equipped for being fixed relative to the first and second parts when the distance is at the desired value, the desired value being freely and continuously adjustable in an adjustment range. 
     
     
         18 . An intervertebral element for being implanted between two vertebral bodies in order for the two vertebral bodies to be fused together and to be spaced from each other, the intervertebral element comprising:
 a first part being equipped for being anchored in a first one of the vertebral bodies,   and a second part being equipped for being anchored in a second one of the vertebral bodies,   wherein the intervertebral element forms a wedge system in which the first and second parts are capable of being distracted relative to one another by a relative movement of parts until a distance between the two vertebral bodies is at a desired value, and   wherein the first and second parts are equipped to be fixed relative to one another.   
     
     
         19 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second parts are equipped to be fixed relative to one another by a positive-fit connection. 
     
     
         20 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 18 , wherein the first part and the second part each are a wedge, both being capable of being anchored in the bone tissue of the vertebral bodies on one side and of being joined to the other part on an opposite side, whereby the first and second parts are capable of being distracted by being moved relative to one another. 
     
     
         21 . The intervertebral element according to  claim 18 , further comprising a wedge-shaped base part, the base part being configured to be pushed between the first and second parts to distract the first and second parts relative to one another, wherein fixing the first and second parts relative to one another comprises a connection of the first part with one side of the base part pushed between the first and second parts and a connection of the second part with an other side of the base part pushed between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         22 . A method of implanting an intervertebral element between two vertebral bodies in order for the two vertebral bodies to be fused together and to be spaced from each other, comprising the steps of:
 providing the intervertebral element, the intervertebral element comprising
 a first part being equipped for being positioned relative to a first one of the vertebral bodies, 
 a second part being equipped for being positioned relative to a second one of the vertebral bodies, 
 and a further part, the further part being capable of being moved relative to the first and second parts; 
   positioning the first and second parts relative to the first and second vertebral bodies;   moving the further part relative to the first and second parts to distract the first and second parts relative to one another until a distance between the vertebral bodies is at a desired value; and   fixing the further part relative to the first and second parts while the distance is at the desired value.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , comprising the step of anchoring the first and second parts relative to the respective vertebral body prior to the step of moving the further part relative to the first and second parts. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , comprising the further step of anchoring the first and second parts relative to the respective vertebral body by a positive-fit connection. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the intervertebral element comprises a material liquefiable with the aid of mechanical vibration, and wherein the step of anchoring the first and second parts comprises charging the liquefiable material with mechanical energy until it becomes liquefied, from an initially solid state, and flows into structures of the bone tissue to form, after re-solidification, a positive-fit connection with the bone tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the intervertebral element comprises a material liquefiable with the aid of mechanical vibration, and wherein the step of fixing the further part relative to the first and second parts comprises charging the liquefiable material with mechanical energy until it becomes liquefied, from an initially solid state, and flows into structures of at least one of the first part, the second part, the further part, to yield, after re-solidification, a positive-fit connection between the further part and the first part or the second part or the first and second parts.