HOOPSWORLD has learned that Kobe Bryant is preparing to take another trip to Germany to have another platelet-rich plasma therapy procedure on his right knee.

Last summer Bryant underwent the same procedure which seemed to rejuvenate his career, although the Los Angeles Lakers would ultimately lose in the second round to the NBA Finals-bound Oklahoma City Thunder.

The procedure involves taking some of Bryant’s own blood which is then put through a centrifuge to isolate platelets.  That “platelet-rich plasma” is then then injected into the knee.

Kobe will need to stay off his knee for at least a week.  A source close to the situation says Bryant may leave as early as this weekend, which will give him ample time to participate with Team USA in Las Vegas in July.

PRP therapy has become a popular treatment technique for some of the top athletes in the world including Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez.  Bryant’s teammate Andrew Bynum is expected to have the same procedure in August.

Despite his age (34 in August), Kobe averaged 27.9 points per game this past season – his most since 2007/8, and second only to Kevin Durant’s 28.0.

UPDATE:  Mike Trudell of Lakers.com breaks down the difference between PRP and the “Orthokine/Regenokine” procedure that Bryant will undergo while in Germany.

According to Lakers long-time trainer Gary Vitti, Bryant’s procedure will involve “the antagonist of interleukin” and “stem cells” as opposed to the standard PRP.  PRP is available in the United States but Kobe’s procedure has yet to be approved by the FDA.