Method for making a bio-compatible scaffold

A method for making a three-dimensional, biocompatible scaffold structure, comprising:

• designing, using imaging analysis utilizing software implemented by a computer, a three-dimensional geometry of a scaffolding structure;
• said software selected from the group consisting of mass transport software and solid mechanics software to match a pre-selected property, said property selected from the group consisting of compressive modulus, compressive strength, porosity of the porous structure, tortuosity of the porous structure, and mass transport characterstics of the porous structure;
• and
• depositing a biocompatible material as discrete elements in said three-dimensional geometry using a rapid-prototyping method to construct a three-dimensional, porous structure, said three-dimensional porous structure comprising macroporosity between approximately 0 and 80%, microporosity of said discrete elements between 0 and 70% and nanoporosity of said discrete elements between approximately 0 and 60%, said discrete elements having a spacing ranging between 300 microns to 1000 microns, said discrete elements having pores with diameters between 1 and 10 microns.