Abstract: A transplant/implant device for delivering at least one predetermined biologically active compound to a human or animal host system or for another biological function in the host system is produced by genetically engineering vital chondrocytes or mixing chondrocytes with another type of native or genetically engineered cells or mixing chondrocytes with artificial particles having a size comparable to the size of cells or combining at least two of the named steps of engineering or mixing and by subjecting the chondrocytes or the mixture comprising the chondrocytes to three dimensional culture conditions for in vitro production of cartilaginous tissue whereby the cells and/or the artificial particles are immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue. The chondrocytes produce and maintain the cartilaginous tissue and the chondrocytes themselves or cells of another cell type immobilized in the cartilaginous tissue are able to produce and secrete the at least one predetermined compound.

Abstract: A method for in vitro cultivation of cells, which grow on a culture surface, wherein the cells are sown on culture surfaces (1) and are cultivated in a culture medium, whereby the culture surface is continually or periodically expanded, without being removed from the culture medium. To expand the culture surface, the cells are not detached from the culture surface and the culture surface between the cells is expanded. However, at least part of the cells can be detached and the culture surface can be expanded by the flooding of additional culture surface areas. The culture surface of an example device for cell cultivation consists of one side of an expanding membrane (6), which is expanded by modifying the pressure on the other side. The cell cultivation can be carried out without manual passaging. The cells are subjected to less stress than in known cell cultivation methods and the method can be automated more easily.

Abstract: Cartilage tissue and implants comprising tissue are produced in vitro starting from cells having the ability to form an extracellular cartilage matrix. Such cells are brought into a cell space (1) and are left in this cell space for producing an extracellular cartilage matrix. The cells are brought into the cell space to have a cell density of ca. 5×107 to 109 cells per cm3 of cell space. The cell space (1) is at least partly separated from a culture medium space (2) surrounding the cell space by means of a semi-permeable wall (3) or by an open-pore wall acting as convection barrier. The open-pore wall can be designed as a plate (7) made of a bone substitute material and constituting the bottom of the cell space (1). The cells settle on such a plate (7) and the cartilage tissue growing in the cell space (1).

Abstract: Cartilage tissue and implants comprising tissue are produced in vitro starting from cells having the ability to form an extracellular cartilage matrix. Such cells are brought into a cell space (1) and are left in this cell space for producing an extracellular cartilage matrix. The cells are brought into the cell space to have a cell density of ca. 5×107 to 109 cells per cm3 of cell space. The cell space (1) is at least partly separated from a culture medium space (2) surrounding the cell space by means of a semi-permeable wall (3) or by an open-pore wall acting as convection barrier. The open-pore wall can be designed as a plate (7) made of a bone substitute material and constituting the bottom of the cell space (1). The cells settle on such a plate (7) and the cartilage tissue growing in the cell space (1).

Abstract: Cartilage tissue and implants comprising cartilage tissue are produced in vitro starting from cells having the ability to form an extracellular cartilage matrix. Such cells are brought into a cell space (1) and are left in this cell space for producing an extracellular cartilage matrix. The cells are brought into the cell space to have a cell density of ca. 5×107 to 109 cells per cm3 of cell space. The cell space (1) is at least partly separated from a culture medium space (2) surrounding the cell space by a semi-permeable wall (3) or by an open-pore wall acting as convection barrier. The open-pore wall can be designed as a plate (7) made of a bone substitute material and constituting the bottom of the cell space (1).

Abstract: The apparatus for the production of endochondral or osteochondral bores comprises a combination of a substantially hollow cylindrical sleeve (10), of which one end is formed as a circular cutting edge (11), with a flat borer (20) which is rotatably and axially displaceably arranged in the sleeve (10). Through pressing in of the cutting edge (11) into the tissue, advantageously only into the cartilage tissue, a tissue column is punched out which then is cut away and removed through screwing in of the flat borer (20). In this the boring is done up to the depth of the cutting edge (11) or deeper.