1. Definition and properties of a biomaterial

After these often instructive historical reminders of the trial and error that has led to a number of modern therapeutic treatments over the centuries, it's time to define exactly what a biomaterial is. There are many different definitions. Only one is considered here, the one adopted in 1986 at the so-called "consensus conference" in Chester (UK) by the European Society for Biomaterials:

It is agreed that a biomaterial may be in contact with a tissue of the human body on a continuous or intermittent basis in order to replace or restore one or more functions. This somewhat restrictive definition excludes surgical instruments and external prostheses, such as...