Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for mechanical stimulation in vitro of tissue, wherein tissue patches (1) are retained in a tissue carrier (2), thereby presenting first surfaces (3) to be stimulated in a plane (X) and wherein a roller (4) having a second surface (5) arranged at its periphery is moved parallel to said plane (X), thereby imposing selected forces on said first surfaces (3) by said second surface (5) for stimulating the tissue patches (1). By presenting the surfaces (3) to be stimulated in a common plane (X) and by moving the roller (4) parallel to said common plane (X) of the first surfaces (3), serving several tissue carriers (2) with one roller (4) is made easy, thus integration into an industrial production is made practicable.

Abstract: This invention provides an implant (prosthesis) for the replacement of defective biological tissue part. In particular, the implants of this invention are well suited for the replacement of cartilage, more preferably for the replacement of articular cartilage. In one embodiment, the implants comprise a micromatrix constructed from an upper boundary layer and a lower boundary layer where the upper and said lower boundary layers are connected via an intermediate layer with fibers. The implant also includes a nanomatrix situated within the intermediate layer. The nanomatrix contains elements of a size on the order of magnitude of nanometers. The intermediate layer accommodates the nanomatrix such that, for a growing inner pressure the boundary layers are mutually held at a preset distance from one another.