Bioceramics definition

Calcium carbonate, mother-of-pearl, magnesite, dolomite and other inorganic materials which nature uses to provide an organism with solidity, have been categorized under the name bioceramic materials. Later some synthetic materials were added to this group. This means that the definition of a ceramic material, as given at the beginning of this book, must somewhat be adjusted as the heat treatment of a ceramic material obviously does not apply in the animal world. 

As mentioned in paragraph 11.6.1 bioceramics are used to repair defects in the human body. Thus a material from outside the body is brought into direct contact with body tissue without any intermediate layer like the skin. These materials are called implants or biomaterials and can be defined in several ways. Two of these definitions are ... 

Bioceramics are meant to be used as implants in living organisms or, more generally, during prolonged contact with biological fluids or tissues. This broad definition includes ceramics which are or could be used in extracorporeal circulation systems (dialysis for example) or engineered bioreactors. However, this chapter will deal essentially with ceramics used as implants. 

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