A filament or printing material placed in a syringe for 3D printing comprising polymers, proteins, and/or functional particles and materials is provided. Methods of treating a bone defect in a subject in need thereof comprising using a handheld 3D printer to apply a filament or the printing material placed in a syringe to the bone defect of the subject are also provided. Methods of fixing or gluing natural or synthetic bone grafts using a handheld 3D printer to apply a filament or the printing material placed in a syringe over and around the defect or at the interface of a flap and the bone. Methods of printing a graft cage for retaining bone grafts and/or bone graft substitute in its desired location during healing for treatment of critical-sized segmental defects in long bones are provided.

An implant configured to completely replace degenerated or damaged nucleus pulposus in an intervertebral disc. The implant comprises a silicone elastomer shell that is implanted into a void within the annulus fibrosus created by at least partial removal of the nucleus pulposus therefrom. A colloidal suspension of platinum cured silicone-based polymer and carbon nanotubes is injected into the elastomer shell. The colloidal suspension is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, particularly infrared or near infrared light, to the point that it hardens. The hardened implant becomes a mechanical replacement for the original nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc.

A filament or printing material placed in a syringe for 3D printing comprising polymers, proteins, and/or functional particles and materials is provided. Methods of treating a bone defect in a subject in need thereof comprising using a handheld 3D printer to apply a filament or the printing material placed in a syringe to the bone defect of the subject are also provided. Methods of fixing or gluing natural or synthetic bone grafts using a handheld 3D printer to apply a filament or the printing material placed in a syringe over and around the defect or at the interface of a flap and the bone. Methods of printing a graft cage for retaining bone grafts and/or bone graft substitiute in its desired location during healing for treatment of critical-sized segmental defects in long bones are provided.

Disclosed is an expandable interbody fusion implant that is configured to have an initial configuration having a first footprint width suitable for being inserted into an intervertebral space and an expanded configuration having a second footprint width that is greater than the first footprint width. The implant may include a first body member and a second body member that is pivotally coupled to the first body member. The implant may be expanded using an inflatable balloon. The implant may be expanded bilaterally such that both body members rotate relative to the other or the implant may be expanded unilaterally such that one of the body members rotates relative to the other.

A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir (110) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tube-shaped instrument (120) is connected to the reservoir (110), and a distal end (D) of the instrument (120) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument (120) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface. The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off, or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.

A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir (110) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tub e-shaped instrument (120) is connected to the reservoir (110), and a distal end (D) of the instrument (120) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument (120) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface.

The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off, or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.

A proposed treatment of arthrosis/osteoarthritis in a joint of a mammal or human patient involves deposing a liquid material on at least one damaged surface of the joint. To accomplish this, a reservoir (110) is provided, which holds a volume of a biocompatible material in liquid form outside of a body containing the joint (J) to be treated. A proximal end (P) of a tub e-shaped instrument (120) is connected to the reservoir (110), and a distal end (D) of the instrument (120) is inserted into the joint (J). The liquid material is fed through the instrument (120) to the distal end (D) for deposition on the at least one damaged joint surface.

The material is configured to assume a solid form under predefined conditions (e.g. when cooling off, or being exposed to a specific type of radiation). When the material has the solid form, it has a resistance to wear adapted to replace a worn out joint surface.

A syringe having an energy source disposed therein is disclosed. The syringe is capable of both the delivery and/or aspiration of materials as well as the delivery of an effective amount of various types of energy to a target to produce a desired result. A method utilizing the syringe to administer materials and to deliver energy to the material is also disclosed.

A syringe having an energy source disposed therein is disclosed. The syringe is capable of both the delivery and/or aspiration of materials as well as the delivery of an effective amount of various types of energy to a target to produce a desired result. A method utilizing the syringe to administer materials and to deliver energy to the material is also disclosed.

An articular ball impactor having a heat resistant material used during heat shrink fit process for providing secure fixation of Morse taper components in modular orthopedic implants. The female Morse component of the articular ball is heated by electromagnetic unit providing thermal expansion. Subsequently, it is impacted over the male Morse taper component and then cooled by commonly used sterile irrigation fluid allowing the female Morse component to shrink thus providing considerable compression, fit and significant reduction of micromotion that has been so widely responsible of fretting and mechanical corrosion.