Patent ID: 8423148

Claim:
A method for treating cartilage defects, comprising the steps of: providing a defective cartilage tissue which has a collagen matrix and an absence of proteoglycans; providing an solution containing charged ions for treating defective cartilage tissue, the solution containing charged ions is selected from a group consisting of: proteoglycan solution, aggrecan isolation, chondrotin sulfate, glucosamine or combinations thereof; injecting the solution containing the charged ions into the collagen matrix of the defective cartilage tissue; providing an electrical source generating electricity having a first end and a second end; contacting a first end of the electrical source to an area proximal to the defective cartilage tissue and bone area contacting a second end of the electrical source to the solution containing charged ions; providing electricity to the first end moving charged ions towards the first end and out of the solution containing ions; providing electricity to the second end moving charged ions towards the first end and into the defective cartilage tissue to replace the absent proteoglycans, whereby the charged ions move from the solution and back into the defective cartilage tissue to provide healthier cartilage tissue.