CARTILAGE REPAIR UNIT

摘要

This invention is a bio-absorbable cartilage repair system (12) for regenerating damaged or destroyed articular cartilage on the surface of a bone by establishing chondrogenic growth supporting matrix between an area of removed damaged or destroyed articular cartilage and the adjacent healthy cancellous bone. The system (12) is at least one assembly of a bio-absorbable delivery unit (14), configured and dimensioned to be mounted in both the removed area and the adjacent healthy area, and a porous bio-absorbable insert (16) supported by and in the delivery unit (14) and establishing communication between the removed area and the adjacent healthy area for a chondrogenic growth supporting matrix. The insert (16) preferably includes a repair factor (e.g., a growth factor, an attachment factor, or both) releasably disposed in the insert (16) to assist in establishing the chondrogenic growth supporting matrix.