Progress in the development of surgical implant materials has been hindered by the lack of basic information on the nature of the tissues, organs and systems being repaired or replaced. Materials' properties of living systems, whose study has been conducted largely under the rubric of tissue mechanics, has tended to be more descriptive than quantitative. In the early days of the modern surgical implant era, this deficiency was not critical. However, as implants continue to improve and both longer service life and higher reliability are sought, the inability to predict the behavior of...

Focuses on principles of biological performance at a relatively fundamental level Examines the concept of biocompatibility and the arguments for the broader concept of biological performance Offers references, test methods, and approaches for establishing the biological performances of materials Tabulates generic materials properties Explores approaches for detecting clinical issues associated with biomaterials in animal models and in patients Covers the design, qualification, standardization, and regulation of implant materials Bioengineers need a thorough grounding in biocompatibility - the...