Biomaterials | Jozef A. Helsen, Yannis Missirlis

Implantology is an interdisciplinary field of basic and applied research of growing importance. It is undoubtedly contributing to the improvement of the quality of life. The first part of this book is an introduction to the field: design, materials selection and testing, and implant testing are introduced with the help of a description of exemplary well functioning protheses. The examples deal with design parameters and all generic classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers and combinations) and their properties, such as degradation, toxicity. Design parameters are deduced from a description of the function of the organ to be supported or replaced. The second part of the book is devoted to a current evolution in the field: tissue engineering. Regeneration of a deficient organ is an obvious and ultimate goal of medicine. This is advanced and applied in a few cases but the booming research activity in the field justifies to expect spectacular achievements in the next two decades.