title: Understanding biological safety.
abstract: A biocompatible device is one that can coexist with living tissue without causing harm. A lack of biocompatibility is usually caused by a chemical interaction between a reactive molecule in or on the device and the tissue with which it comes in contact (although tissue injury may also be caused by mechanical interaction). This article explains the causes and the effects of bioincompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Device Group Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA. njstark@clinicaldesign.com
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004869:Equipment Safety; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials