Implantable Medical Devices

Implantable medical devices are technological inventions that are surgically or otherwise placed within the human body to replace, support, or enhance a biological structure, remaining in place for an extended period rather than being used only externally. This class spans structural implants such as artificial heart valves and dental implants, electronic implants such as cardiac pacemakers and cochlear implants, and drug-delivery implants such as insulin pumps and drug-eluting stents. Because an implant contacts living tissue, its outer surface is typically made from a biocompatible material such as titanium, silicone, or apatite, chosen for how well the body tolerates it over years of continuous contact. Implants differ from a transplant, which moves living biological tissue from one body to another, since an implant is a manufactured device rather than tissue. The biomedical engineering field responsible for this class of devices spans structural replacement, electronic monitoring and stimulation, and controlled drug delivery, unified by the shared requirement that the device function safely while embedded in the body.