ACT 3D

Harvest of a cartilage tissue sample (Biopsy)
After having made the diagnosis, the orthopaedist or surgeon harvests a small piece of cartilage tissue from a healthy, minor weight-bearing part of the patient’s joint. The harvesting of the cartilage tissue is carried out within an approx. 30-minute lasting arthroscopic surgery (knee arthroscopy). At the same time, approx. 200 ml blood is taken from the patient. The blood is used in the lab for serum isolation.

Production of the autologous three-dimensional chondrocyte transplant
The harvested cartilage sample along with the blood is sent to co.don^® AG. Chondrocytes are isolated from the tissue sample and cultivated under sterile conditions in the highly specialized cell culture laboratories of co.don^® AG. At the end of the production process, that usually takes 6 to 7 weeks, small three-dimensional spheroids have formed.

The proliferation of chondrocytes is performed according to the requirements of the German Drug Law and the quality management (GMP, DIN EN ISO 9001).

After the cultivation, the biological pharmaceutical product is sent to the treating physician. The transport is carried out under secure conditions within a few hours to maintain the cells’ quality.

Transplantation
This is an minimal invasive or arthroscopic operation of about 30 – 60 minutes. The damaged tissue of the cartilage defect is removed (Debridement).

The cultivated autologous cells are now placed over the prepared area of the cartilage defect without any covering. They adhere on the defect base within 15 to 20 minutes. Consequently, their spheroidal form becomes flattened.

The operation is followed by hospitalization for about three days. The transplanted cells are now promoting the regenerative process in the joint and form new cartilage tissue. This new cartilage tissue attaches itself to the surrounding cartilage to form a strong, load-bearing cartilage surface.

After 3 months, the joint can be loaded again, and after a year the cartilage reaches its complete stability.