AAWSAP DIRD, Biomaterials, January 2010

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Numbers of Medical Devices/yr. Worldwi,.,......-­
intraocular lens
7,000,
contact lens
75,000,000
vascular graft
400,000
hip and knee prostheses
1,000,000
catheter
300,000,000
heart valve
200,000
stent (cardiovascular)
>2,000,000
breast implant
300,000
dental implant
500,000
pacemaker
200,000
renal d ialyzer
25,000,000
left ventricular assist devices
100,000
Millions oflives saved. The quality ofLife improved for millions more.
A $100 billion industry
Figure 2. Common Medical Devices That Use Biomaterials
The development of biomaterials is the junction of materials science and
chemistry. Medical devices may be composed of a single biomaterial or a
combination of several materials. A heart valve might be fabricated from
polymers, metals, and carbons. A hip joint might be fabricated from metals
and polymers (and sometimes ceramics) and will be interfaced to the body
through a polymeric bone cement.
Biomaterials by themselves do not make a useful clinical therapy but rather
have to be fabricated into devices. This is typically an engineer's role, but the
engineer might work closely with synthetic chemists to optimize material
properties and with physicians to ensure the device is useful in clinical
applications.
Biomaterials must be compatible with the body, and there are often issues
that must be resolved before a product can be placed on the market and used
in a clinical setting. Because of this, biomaterials are usually subjected to the
same very stringent safety requirements as those of new drug therapies.
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