Biocompatibility

Of a long-term implantable medical device which performs its intended function without eliciting any undesirable local or systemic effects in the host.

There are several definitions of biocompatibility.  The earliest and simplest definition is that the material is not toxic to its host.  This is a necessary requirement for biocompatibility, but there are additional requirements for an implanted device to perform the function for which it was designed.  Consensus is moving toward