Methods of securing a fastener

Abstract

Embodiments may include an attachable fastener, which may include a bondable material that may be secured to the end of an end effector. Vibration may be tuned to occur at a distal end of the fastener. Accordingly, the fastener may be used to generate heat at a distal point of contact. If the contact surface contains bondable material, that material may be softened. If the fastener includes bondable material at the point of contact, that material may also be softened by heat produced by vibration at the contact area. A hard implant or another polymeric material may function as the anvil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller for use with a joining device, the controller comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processor to perform functions comprising:
 detecting a pressure applied to a horn of the joining device when the horn is pressed against a first component; 
 determining when the pressure is within a predetermined pressure range indicating that the pressure is suitable for securing the first component to a second component; 
 generating energy when the pressure has remained within the predetermined pressure range for at least a predetermined duration of time; and 
 applying the energy through the horn to the first component to secure the first component to the second component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the functions performed by the processor further comprise inhibiting the generation of energy when the pressure is outside the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the functions performed by the processor further comprise:
 determining when the first component is secured to the second component; and   stopping the generation of energy after determining the first component is secured to the second component.   
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 3 , wherein said determining when the first component is secured to the second component comprises determining when a predetermined amount of energy has been applied to the first component by the joining device. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the energy generated is vibratory energy. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first component is a first medical device component and the second component is a second medical device component. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a joining device, said method comprising:
 detecting a pressure applied to a horn of the joining device when the horn is pressed against a first component;   determining when the pressure is within a predetermined pressure range indicating that the pressure is suitable for securing the first component to a second component;   generating energy when the pressure has remained within the predetermined pressure range for at least a predetermined duration of time; and   applying the energy through the horn to the first component to secure the first component to the second component.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising inhibiting the generation of energy when the pressure is outside the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining when the first component is secured to the second component; and   stopping the generation of energy after determining the first component is secured to the second component.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing an indication when the first component is secured to the second component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said determining when the first component is secured to the second component comprises determining when a predetermined amount of energy has been applied to the first component by the joining device. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the energy generated is vibratory energy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first component is a first medical device component and the second component is a second medical device component. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 an applicator configured to generate vibratory energy; and   a generator coupled to the applicator, the generator comprising a processing device and a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions comprising:
 applying a first tuning signal to the applicator, the first tuning signal having a first variable frequency within a predetermined frequency range; 
 detecting a first parameter and a second parameter of the applicator in response to the first tuning signal; 
 comparing the first parameter and the second parameter to a predetermined parameter range to determine if the detected parameters are outside the predetermined parameter range; and 
 repeating the tuning signal when the detected parameters are determined to be out of the predetermined parameter range. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first parameter is a first impedance, the second parameter is a second impedance, and the predetermined parameter range is a predetermined impedance range. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising the processing device comparing a sensed pressure between the applicator and a surface to a predetermined pressure range to determine if the sensed pressure is within the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the function of applying the first tuning signal to the application is inhibited when the pressure is outside the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the generation of vibratory energy is inhibited when the pressure is outside the predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the surface is a surface of a first component, wherein the first component is configured to be joined to a second component. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first component is a first medical device component and the second component is a second medical device component.