Abstract
The wordbiomaterialscan be defined in two ways: as commonplace biological materials such as tissues and woods or as any materials that replace the function of the living tissues or organs. In legal terms (Clemson Advisory Board for Biomaterials “Definition of the word ‘biomaterials,’” The 6th Annual International Biomaterial Symposium, April 20–24, 1974) “a biomaterial is a systemically, pharmacologically inert substance designed for implantation within or incorporation with a living system.” This definition clearly emphasizes biomaterials as implant materials although the conventional usage of the prefixbiois somewhat violated; for example, biochemistry and biophysics refer to the study of biological materials rather than man-made materials. In order to avoid confusion,biomaterialswill refer to implants replacing and restoring living tissues and their functions. From this definition, (implantable)biomaterialsincludes anything that is intermittently or continuously exposed to body fluids although they may actually be located outside of the body proper. Included in this category are most dental materials although traditionally they have been treated as separate entities. Devices such as external artificial limbs, hearing aids, and external facial “prostheses” are not implants.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
W. K. Massie, Fractures of the hip,J. Bone J. Surg.46A, 658–690, 1964.
J. H. Dumbleton, Elements of hip joint prosthesis reliability,J. Med. Eng. Technol. 7, 341–346, 1977.
D. F. Williams and R. Roaf,Implants in Surgery, Chapter 1, Saunders, Philadelphia, 1973.
Bibliography
J. Black,Biological Performance of Materials, Dekker, New York, 1980.
J. H. U. Brown, J. E. Jacobs, and L. Stark,Biomedical Engineering, Chapter 11, Davis, Philadelphia, 1971.
D. C. Mears,Materials and Orthopedic Surgery, Chapter 1, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1979.
J. B. Park,Biomaterials: An Introduction, Plenum Press, New York, 1979.
L. Stark and G. Agarwal (ed.),Biomaterials, Plenum Press, New York, 1969.
S. A. Wesolowski, A. Martinez, and J. D. McMahon,Use of Artificial Materials in Surgery,Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1966.
D. F. Williams and R. Roaf,Implants in Surgery, Chapter 1, Saunders, Philadelphia, 1973.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Park, J.B. (1984). Introduction. In: Biomaterials Science and Engineering. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2769-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2769-1_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9710-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2769-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive