A composite implant is provided for repairing a tissue defect in a
patient. In one embodiment, the implant is a porous tissue scaffold
having at least one pocket formed therein and adapted to contain a viable
tissue. The tissue scaffold can have a variety of configurations, and in
one embodiment it includes top and bottom portions that can be at least
partially mated to one another, and in an exemplary embodiment that are
heated sealed to one another around a perimeter thereof to form an
enclosed pocket therebetween. The pocket is preferably sealed with a
viable tissue disposed therein. In another embodiment, the tissue
scaffold is substantially wedge-shaped and the pocket comprises a hollow
interior formed in the tissue scaffold, and/or at least one lumen
extending into the tissue scaffold. The tissue scaffold can also
optionally include at least one surface feature formed thereof to promote
blood vessel formation.
