An anatomically specific, bioresorbable, implant device for facilitating
the healing of voids in bone, cartilage and soft tissue is disclosed. A
preferred embodiment of using the implant device for facilitating the
healing of a human joint lesion includes a cartilage region invested with
an alginate microstructure joined with a subchondral bone region invested
with a hyaluronan microstructure. The alginate selectively dispersed in
the cartilage region enhances the environment for chondrocytes to grow
articular cartilage. The hyaluronan selectively dispersed in the
subchondral bone region enhances the environment for mesenchymal cells
which migrate into that region's macrostructure and which differentiate
into osteoblasts. The microstructures can be invested at varying
concentrations in the regions. A hydrophobic barrier, strategically
positioned within the subchondral bone region macrostructure, shields the
chondrocytes from the oxygenated blood in subchondral cancellous bone. In
the preferred form, the cartilage region includes a tangential zone
including a network of intercommunicating void spaces having a horizontal
orientation and in communication with synovial fluid and includes a radial
zone including multiple void spaces oriented in both horizontal and
vertical planes and providing intercommunication between the tangential
zone and the subchondral bone region.