| abstract |
Bone substitute materials have been developed that become flowable upon heating. In order to use these new materials in the special environment of an operating room, methods and devices have been developed to conveniently and sterilely heat samples of the material as the material is being implanted into a patient. Inventive heating devices include cannulas with a heated tip and devices similar to a hot melt glue gun. Therefore, the material is heated for only a short time preventing the degradation of biological components of the material. |