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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vibratory energy system for joining a first component to a second component, comprising:
 a bonding control unit;   an energy source coupled to the bonding control unit and configured to supply electrical energy;   a movable ultrasonic stack, comprising:
 a proximal end configured to couple to the bonding control unit; 
 a converter configured to convert the electrical energy to vibratory energy and to control application of the vibratory energy; 
 an end effector configured to apply the vibratory energy during joining the first component to the second component; and 
 a force regulator configured to control movement of, and, during the movement, a force applied by, the ultrasonic stack; and 
   a sensor configured to measure bonding characteristics during the joining,   wherein the bonding characteristics are selected from a group consisting of applied force, applied pressure, time, deformation, and temperature, and combinations thereof, and   wherein during contact of the first component with the second component, the ultrasonic stack is operable to apply the vibratory energy through the end effector to the first component.   
     
     
         22 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the first component and the second component comprise chemically same polymeric materials. 
     
     
         23 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the first component and the second component comprise chemically different polymeric materials. 
     
     
         24 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the first component comprises a polymeric material and the second component comprises a metallic material. 
     
     
         25 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the bonding control unit;   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon, machine instructions for controlling operation of the vibratory energy system, wherein the processor executes the machine instructions to control operations of the vibratory energy system;   an indicator coupled to the sensor, wherein the indicator provides one or more of a visual and an audible indicator of bonding, based on the measured bonding characteristics; and   a booster coupled to the converter and configured to boost the vibratory energy,   wherein the force regulator comprises a damping element.   
     
     
         26 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the end effector comprises a titanium material. 
     
     
         27 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the end effector comprises a connector to couple to the first component prior to joining and to decouple the end effector from the first component after the joining. 
     
     
         28 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the end effector is detachable and wherein the ultrasonic stack is configured to employ differing end effectors according to material properties of the first and second components. 
     
     
         29 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 21 , wherein the ultrasonic stack is configured to align the end effector at a desired point of bonding of the first component to the second component. 
     
     
         30 . A vibratory energy system for joining a first component to a second component, comprising:
 a bonding control unit;   an electrical energy source coupled to the bonding control unit;   a user interface coupled to the electrical energy source;   a movable ultrasonic stack coupled to the bonding control unit, the ultrasonic stack, comprising:
 a proximal end configured to couple to the electrical energy source; 
 a converter configured to convert electrical energy from the electrical energy source to vibratory energy; 
 an end effector configured to apply the vibratory energy and a force during joining the first component to the second component; and 
 a force regulator to control movement of and the force applied by the ultrasonic stack; and 
   a sensor configured to measure bonding characteristics during the joining,   wherein the bonding characteristics are selected from a group consisting of applied force, applied pressure, time, deformation, and temperature, and   wherein during contact of the first component with the second component, the ultrasonic stack is operable to apply the vibratory energy through the end effector to the first component.   
     
     
         31 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , wherein the vibratory energy is within a range of 38 kHz to 44 kHz. 
     
     
         32 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the bonding control unit;   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage units having encoded thereon, machine instructions for controlling operation of the vibratory energy system, wherein the processor executes the machine instructions to control operations of the vibratory energy system; and   an indicator coupled to the sensor, wherein the indicator provides one or more of a visual and an audible indicator of bonding, based on the measured bonding characteristics,   wherein the force regulator comprises a damping element.   
     
     
         33 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , wherein the end effector is detachable, and wherein the ultrasonic stack is configured to employ differing end effectors according to material properties of the first and second components. 
     
     
         34 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , wherein the ultrasonic stack further comprises a booster. 
     
     
         35 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , wherein the ultrasonic stack is configured to align the end effector centered on a desired point of bonding of the first component to the second component. 
     
     
         36 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 30 , wherein the end effector comprises a connector to couple to the first component prior to joining and to decouple the end effector from the first component after the joining. 
     
     
         37 . A vibratory energy system for bonding two or more materials, comprising:
 a bonding control unit;   an electrical energy source coupled to the bonding control unit;   a vibratory energy application device coupled to the electrical energy source and the bonding control unit and configured to generate vibratory energy;   a first control mechanism incorporated into the bonding control unit and configured to control application of the vibratory energy for bonding the two or more materials;   a second control mechanism incorporated into the vibratory energy application device and configured to control a force transmitted by the vibratory energy application device; and   a sensor configured to output one or more signals indicative of a desired bonding between the two or more materials.   
     
     
         38 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , further comprising a regulatory mechanism incorporated into the vibratory energy application device and configured to regulate force applied through the vibratory energy application device to the two or more materials. 
     
     
         39 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , wherein the vibratory energy application device comprises one or more detachable end effectors, wherein the detachable end effectors are configured to provide bonding according to configurations of the two or more materials. 
     
     
         40 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , wherein the vibratory energy application device comprises one or more detachable end effectors, wherein the detachable end effectors are configured to provide bonding according to chemical properties of the two or more materials. 
     
     
         41 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the bonding control unit; and   a non-transitory, computer-readable storage units having encoded thereon, machine instructions for controlling operation of the vibratory energy system, wherein the processor executes the machine instructions to control operations of the vibratory energy system.   
     
     
         42 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , further comprising an indicator coupled to the sensor and configured to display an output signal from the sensor indicative of the desired bonding. 
     
     
         43 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , further comprising a coupler configured to fix the first material relative to the second material,
 wherein the first control mechanism comprises a selector incorporated into the bonding control unit for changing bonding parameters, and   wherein the second control mechanism comprises a damping element incorporated into the vibratory application device.   
     
     
         44 . The vibratory energy system of  claim 37 , wherein the vibratory energy application device comprises a piezoelectric stack.