A sterile, bioabsorbable device intended to be implanted in the void of a cartilage defect of a joint (e.g., knee, ankle, shoulder), typically up to a diameter of 34 mm, during an orthopaedic or traumatologic intervention, to promote the ingrowth of autologous cells (e.g., with bone marrow stimulation techniques) for cartilage reconstruction or augmentation. It consists primarily of an animal-derived matrix structure (e.g., made of animal-derived type 1 collagen, chitosan) that provides a scaffold for cell growth. It is available in various dimensions or may be an injectable fluid, and can be applied arthroscopically, or with miniarthrotomy for larger defects.