RT Journal Article ID 0986824c7512f6ec A1 Lodder, Anton A1 Kamath, Markad A1 Upton, Adrian R. M. A1 Armstrong, David T1 Evaluation of the Efficacy and Performance of Medical Implants: A Review JF Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants JO JLT YR 2010 FD 2011-03-08 VO 20 IS 3 SP 173 OP 185 K1 hip arthroplasty K1 cochlear implant K1 artificial heart valve K1 ocular implant K1 LVAD K1 synthetic corneal implant K1 insulin pump K1 implantable cardiac defibrillators K1 failure mechanism AB An implant can be defined, in a medical context, as biological or artificial materials inserted or grafted into the body. Implants may be sensory devices (cochlear, ocular), mechanical devices that are 'passive' (orthopedic joint replacements and fixation plates, dental implants, coronary artery stents and vascular grafts) or 'active' (left ventricular assist devices, heart valves) electrophysiological stimulation devices (cardiac or gastric pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators, functional electrical stimulators for epilepsy or Parkinson's disease) or medication administration devices (insulin or analgesic delivery pumps) or intra-ocular sustained drug release implants. Implantation has had a long history in several subspecialties of medicine. Evaluation of the efficacy of implants is a multifactorial issue. Several variables need to be considered while studying the rejection of the implants such as pathophysiological mechanisms, malfunction, design shortcomings and improper implementation/implantation by a medical team. This paper identifies a variety of modes of failure and how they affect the overall efficacy of the device technologies. Suggestions for improvement, as outlined in the literature, will be examined. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/1bef42082d7a0fdf,12afd56d284de467,0986824c7512f6ec.html