Cartilage repair unit

A cartilage repair system for regenerating damaged or destroyed articular cartilage on a joint surface of a bone by establishing a chondrogenic growth-supporting matrix between an area of damaged or destroyed articular cartilage that has been removed and an adjacent healthy area of articular cartilage and subchondral cancellous bone, said system comprising an assembly of a delivery unit and a porous insert;

• (A) said delivery unit being formed of bio-absorbable material and configured and dimensioned to be mounted in both an area of damaged or destroyed articular cartilage that has been removed and an adjacent healthy area of articular cartilage and subchondral cancellous bone, said delivery unit having a central body and a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced, support arms projecting outwardly from said central body and configured and dimensioned to support said insert at least partially thereover;
• (B) said insert being supported by said delivery unit, substantially formed of bio-absorbable material, and establishing communication between the removed area and the adjacent healthy area for a chondrogenic growth-supporting matrix;
• said insert including cartilage or cartilage-progenitor cells to facilitate establishing said communication.