Book excerpt: The success of any implant or medical device depends very much on the biomaterial used. Synthetic materials (such as metals, polymers and composites) have made significant contributions to many established medical devices. The aim of this book is to provide a basic understanding on the engineering and processing aspects of biomaterials used in medical applications. Of paramount importance is the tripartite relationship between material properties, processing methods and design. As the target audiences cover a wide interdisciplinary field, each chapter is written with a detailed background so that audience of another discipline will be able to understand. For the more knowledgeable reader, a detailed list of references is included.