| 摘要 |
<p>Methods and devices are disclosed for using a load-sharing scaffold (10) to help repair damaged cartilage in a mammalian joint such as a knee joint. The scaffold (10) comprises a network of spaced and non-rigid 'runners' (12) which, when properly positioned in a large defect in a segment of damaged cartilage, will effectively subdivide the large defect into smaller compartments (15). Each compartment (15) has an area that is small enough (generally less than 1 square centimeter) to allow implanted chondrocyte cells to regenerate cartilage in that compartment, with a high likelihood of a successful outcome. The runners (12) can be made of a slowly resorbable material, so that they will be gradually dissolved after a period of a number of weeks or months, as regenerated cartilage becomes able to withstand the weight-bearing and other loads that are imposed on it without further assistance from the runners (12). The scaffold can also have an articulating membrane, bonded to the upper edges of the runners (12).</p> |
