ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a review that is concerned with the polymers used in surgical implants, the requirements for such uses, and the past, present, and, hopefully, future research approaches for the development of needed materials. Once a suitable material is available, engineering design and production are the problems. Obviously there must be interaction between the materials scientist and the engineer if the needed implant is to be realized. Gott et al. have classified thromboresistant surfaces into the following three categories: heparinized surfaces, surfaces with anionic radicals or imposed negative electrical charges, and surfaces of relatively inert materials. A fourth class, "biologic surfaces," has been added to include those materials modified by the addition of a biologic material other than heparin. The extent of damage for foreign surfaces to formed elements is uncertain because of the difficulty in separating purely surface effects from hemodynamic effects.
