| abstract |
An implantable device for facilitating the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a cartilage region comprising a polyelectrolytic complex joined with a subchondral bone region. The cartilage region, of this embodiment, enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow articular cartilage; while the subchondral bone region enhances the environment for cells which migrate into that region's macrostructure and which differentiate into osteoblasts. Another embodiment is arranged for the local delivery of therapeutic agent. A preferred embodiment is a porous resorbable implant, wherein the therapy delivery may be localized in nature, rather than systemic, such that higher doses at the target site may be allowed than would be tolerable by the body systemically. |