3D printing of polymeric bioceramics for the treatment of bone defects

A method of fixing, adhering, or gluing a bone fracture, a bone flap, a bone graft and/or pieces of bone in a subject in need thereof, comprising:

• imaging the bone fracture, bone flap, or bone graft and/or at an interface of a flap and a bone within the subject;
• and
• while imaging, using a handheld 3D printer to directly deposit a filament or printing material inside, over and/or around the bone fracture, bone flap, or bone graft and/or at an interface of a flap and a bone within the subject, wherein the filament or printing material comprises a polymer having a melting point of 70° C. or lower,
• wherein the handheld 3D printer comprises:
• a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the housing including a receptacle for receiving a portion of a syringe or a filament assembly within the housing;
• a power supply disposed within the housing;
• an electric actuator disposed within the housing at a position sufficient to facilitate an operable coupling of the electric actuator to at least a portion of a plunger of the syringe or filament assembly upon an insertion into the receptacle;
• a control interface positioned at least partially within the housing and including at least one control device operable from an exterior of the housing;
• a controller disposed within the housing and coupled to the power supply, the electric actuator, and the control interface;
• a heater that heats up at least part of the syringe or the filament upon an insertion into the receptacle, the controller configured to regulate a flow of power from the power supply to the electric actuator and heater based on signals received from the at least one control device to facilitate regulating an actuation of the plunger by the electric actuator;
• and
• a heated nozzle with a size or geometry that allows extrusion of the filament out of the printer.

A method for retaining a bone graft and/or a bone graft substitute in a bone defect of a subject, comprising:

• placing the bone graft and/or the bone graft substitute in a specific location at the bone defect of the subject;
• using a handheld 3D printer to directly deposit printing material from a filament at the bone defect of the subject, wherein the printing material comprises a polymer having a melting point of 70° C. or lower, wherein the printing material is deposited so as to print in situ a graft cage at the defect, wherein the graft cage is sized to retain the bone graft and/or bone graft substitute in the specific location in the defect;
• and
• allowing said subject to heal while said bone graft and/or bone graft substitute is retained at the specific location using the graft cage.