Canadian Medical Guide > Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment > Equipment and Supplies > Prostheses and Implants Terms and Definitions

Prostheses and Implants

Medical Definition:	Artificial substitutes for body parts, and materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic purposes. Prostheses can be functional, as in the case of artificial arms and legs, or cosmetic, as in the case of an artificial eye. Implants, all surgically inserted or grafted into the body, tend to be used therapeutically. IMPLANTS, EXPERIMENTAL is available for those used experimentally.
Guide Notes:	GEN: prefer specifics; coord IM with prosthetic or implant material (IM or NIM); adv eff: consider PROSTHESIS-RELATED INFECTIONS; BIOPROSTHESIS is also available
Also Called:	Implants, Artificial,Prosthesis
Previously Indexed:	specific implant (1966-1997),specific prosthesis (1966-1997)

Prostheses and Implants Categories.

	Absorbable Implants - Implants constructed of materials designed to be absorbed by the body without producing an immune response. They are usually composed of plastics and are frequently used in orthopedics and orthodontics.
	Artificial Limbs - Prosthetic replacements for arms, legs, and parts therof.
	Bioprosthesis - Prosthesis, usually heart valve, composed of biological material and whose durability depends upon the stability of the material after pretreatment, rather than regeneration by host cell ingrowth. Durability is achieved 1) mechanically by the interposition of a cloth, usually polytetrafluoroethylene, between the host and the graft, and 2) chemically by stabilization of the tissue by intermolecular linking, usually with glutaraldehyde, after removal of antigenic components, or the use of reconstituted and restructured biopolymers.
	Blood Vessel Prosthesis - Prosthesis, constructed of either synthetic or biological material, which is used for the repair of injured or diseased blood vessels.
	Bone Nails - Rods of bone, metal, or other material used for fixation of the fragments or ends of fractured bones.
	Bone Plates - Implantable fracture fixation devices attached to bone fragments with screws to bridge the fracture gap and shield the fracture site from stress as bone heals. (UMDNS, 1999)
	Bone Screws
	Breast Implants - Implants used to reconstruct and/or cosmetically enhance the female breast. They have an outer shell or envelope of silicone elastomer and are filled with either saline or silicone gel. The outer shell may be either smooth or textured.
	Eye, Artificial - A ready-made or custom-made prosthesis of glass or plastic shaped and colored to resemble the anterior portion of a normal eye and used for cosmetic reasons. It is attached to the anterior portion of an orbital implant (ORBITAL IMPLANTS) which is placed in the socket of an enucleated or eviscerated eye. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
	Glaucoma Drainage Implants - Devices, usually incorporating unidirectional valves, which are surgically inserted in the sclera to maintain normal intraocular pressure.
	Heart Valve Prosthesis - A device that substitutes for a heart valve. It may be composed of biological material (BIOPROSTHESIS) and/or synthetic material.
	Heart, Artificial - A pumping mechanism that duplicates the output, rate, and blood pressure of the natural heart. It may replace the function of the entire heart or a portion of it, and may be an intracorporeal, extracorporeal, or paracorporeal heart. (Dorland, 28th ed)
	Implants, Experimental - Artificial substitutes for body parts and materials inserted into organisms during experimental studies.
	Internal Fixators - Internal devices used in osteosynthesis to hold the position of the fracture in proper alignment. By applying the principles of biomedical engineering, the surgeon uses metal plates, nails, rods, etc., for the correction of skeletal defects.
	Joint Prosthesis - Prostheses used to partially or totally replace a human or animal joint. (from UMDNS, 1999)
	Larynx, Artificial - A device, activated electronically or by expired pulmonary air, which simulates laryngeal activity and enables a laryngectomized person to speak. Examples of the pneumatic mechanical device are the Tokyo and Van Hunen artificial larynges. Electronic devices include the Western Electric electrolarynx, Tait oral vibrator, Cooper-Rand electrolarynx and the Ticchioni pipe.
	Maxillofacial Prosthesis - A prosthetic appliance for the replacement of areas of the maxilla, mandible, and face, missing as a result of deformity, disease, injury, or surgery. When the prosthesis replaces portions of the mandible only, it is referred to as MANDIBULAR PROSTHESIS.
	Orbital Implants - Rounded objects made of coral, teflon, or alloplastic polymer and covered with sclera, and which are implanted in the orbit following enucleation. An artificial eye (EYE, ARTIFICIAL) is usually attached to the anterior of the orbital implant for cosmetic purposes.
	Ossicular Prosthesis - An implant used to replace one or more of the ear ossicles. They are usually made of plastic, Gelfoam, ceramic, or stainless steel.
	Penile Prosthesis - Rigid, semi-rigid, or inflatable cylindric hydraulic devices, with either combined or separate reservoir and pumping systems, implanted for the surgical treatment of organic impotence.
	Stents - Devices that provide support for tubular structures that are being anastomosed or for body cavities during skin grafting.
	Tissue Expanders - Inflatable reservoirs, usually made of silicone, which are implanted subcutaneously in order to generate tissue needed for surgical reconstruction. After implantation, the reservoir is inflated over several weeks by percutaneous injection of fluid. Once the tissue has grown, the expander is surgically removed and the expanded skin is used to cover the area being reconstructed.
	Urinary Sphincter, Artificial - An artifical implanted device, usually in the form of an inflatable silicone cuff, inserted in or around the bladder neck in the surgical treatment of urinary incontinence caused by sphincter weakness. Often it is placed around the bulbous urethra in adult males. The artificial urinary sphincter is considered an alternative to urinary diversion.
	Vena Cava Filters - Mechanical devices inserted in the inferior vena cava that prevent the migration of blood clots from deep venous thrombosis of the leg.

Prostheses and Implants Medical Definitions and Terms

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