Composite scaffold structure

1. A composite scaffold comprising:

a resilient support structure that is porous and bioremovable, the resilient support structure including a bioremovable polymeric material;

a plurality of particles of calcium phosphate material that form a discontinuous coating of discrete particles on the resilient support structure such that the calcium phosphate material resists breaking when the resilient support structure flexes.

2. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the particles from the plurality of particles are porous.

3. The composite scaffold of claim 2 wherein each of the particles have a pore size of approximately 0.01 micron to 1 micron.

4. The composite scaffold of claim 2 wherein a bioactive agent is positioned in the pores of the particles.

5. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the composite scaffold includes a bioactive agent that promotes cartilage growth.

6. The composite scaffold of claim 5 wherein the bioactive agent includes collagen.

7. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the plurality of particles include tricalcium phosphate material.

8. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the calcium phosphate material is amorphous calcium phosphate material.

9. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the resilient support structure has a reticulated porous structure and/or is assembled by coupling a plurality of rods together.

10. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the resilient support structure is injection molded.

11. The composite scaffold of claim 1 wherein the composite scaffold includes a plurality of cells that promote repair and/or regeneration of articular cartilage.

12. A composite scaffold comprising:

a resilient support structure including a bioremovable polymeric material, the resilient support structure being coated with calcium phosphate material;

wherein the composite scaffold is configured so that the calcium phosphate material resists breaking when the resilient support structure flexes.

13. The composite scaffold of claim 12 wherein the calcium phosphate material forms a coating of separate and discrete particles of calcium phosphate material and/or separate and discrete clumps of particles of calcium phosphate.

14. The composite scaffold of claim 12 wherein the resilient support structure is coated with a plurality of porous particles of calcium phosphate material.

15. The composite scaffold of claim 14 comprising a bioactive agent positioned in the pores of the porous particles of calcium phosphate material.

16. The composite scaffold of claim 12 wherein the calcium phosphate material is amorphous calcium phosphate material.

17. The composite scaffold of claim 12 wherein the resilient support structure has a reticulated porous structure and/or is assembled by coupling a plurality of rods together.

18. The composite scaffold of claim 12 wherein the composite scaffold includes a plurality of cells that promote repair and/or regeneration of articular cartilage.

19. A composite scaffold comprising:

a bioremovable polymeric material that forms a support structure;

a plurality of particles of calcium phosphate material that form a discontinuous coating of discrete particles over the support structure.

20. The composite scaffold of claim 19 wherein the particles from the plurality of particles are porous.

21. The composite scaffold of claim 20 comprising a bioactive agent positioned in the pores of the particles.

22. The composite scaffold of claim 19 wherein the calcium phosphate material is amorphous calcium phosphate material.

23. The composite scaffold of claim 19 wherein the support structure has a reticulated porous structure and/or is assembled by coupling a plurality of rods together.

24. The composite scaffold of claim 19 wherein the support structure is injection molded.

25. The composite scaffold of claim 19 wherein the composite scaffold includes chondrocytes.