There has been a rapid expansion of activity in the area of biomaterials and related medical devices, both in scientific terms and in clinical and commercial applications. The definition of terms has failed to keep pace with the rapidity of these developments and there is considerable confusion over the terminology used in this highly multi- and inter-disciplinary area. This confusion has arisen partly from the use of inappropriate terms which already have well-defined meanings in their parent disciplines, but which are used inexpertly by those working in other disciplines, and partly from the haphazard generation of new terms for the purpose of defining new phenomena or devices. For example, many terms used in pathology with distinct, if not readily understood, meanings are used by materials scientists to describe biocompatibility phenomena with slightly changed or even wholly misrepresented meanings; similarly, terms from materials science and engineering are seriously misused by biologists and clinicians working in this field. The leading proponent of harmonization and clarity in medical device terminology, Professor D. F. Williams has been influential in setting the standard for the accurate definition of some of the terms used. In particular, the definition of biocompatibility, ‘the Williams definition’, agreed at a 1987 conference has been adopted worldwide. Now, in association with O’Donnell and Associates of Brussels, he has prepared The Williams Dictionary to provide a definitive exposition of the meaning of the terminology used in the area of biomaterials and medical devices. It includes definitions and explanations of more than 2,000 terms from many areas, including biomaterials and medical devices, materials science, biological sciences, and clinical medicine and surgery.

The concept of The Williams Dictionary arose from the frequent observation of the misuse of terminology in the literature of biomaterials and associated fields. As engineers struggle both to read and to write papers that address biological and clinical issues, and clinical scientists themselves become involved in engineering matters, there has been ample scope for confusion over the words that they use. There has also been an uncontrolled proliferation of new words, often unnecessary and gramatically incorrect, in the interdisciplinary area. The Williams Dictionary of Biomaterials provides definitions and explanatory notes for 6000 words and, in so doing, attempts to develop guidelines for the selection of terms in the science of biomaterials and medical devices.

In association with O'Donnell and Associates of Brussels, Williams has prepared The Williams Dictionary to provide a definitive exposition of the meaning of the terminology used in the area of biomaterials and medical devices.

This dictionary contains thousands of definitions from various related disciplines and minimizes the need for several dictionaries. The book defines everything from AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) to zymogen (proenzyme). The editor, an internationally recognized expert in the area of biomaterials, has combined knowledge from the fields of medicine, pharmacology, physiology, polymer chemistry, biochemistry, metallurgy, and organic chemistry.

Biomedical engineering is one of the most prominent and rapidly developing engineering fields. It is a discipline that is involved in the development of devices, algorithms, processes, procedures and systems to enhance and improve the medical field. Biomedical engineering has multiple areas of specialization that include: biomechanics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, imaging, and bioinstrumentation. This book serves as a guide to students and professionals seeking to understand commonly used technical terms and phrases in the biomedical engineering field. The content is specifically designed to define technical terms in a general context to facilitate an overall understanding. The author begins by translating terms in English to Arabic then Arabic to English. This text can be used as a tool in the academic or professional environment for both English speaking and non-English speaking individuals alike.

This dictionary contains thousands of definitions from various related disciplines and minimizes the need for several dictionaries. The book defines everything from AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) to zymogen (proenzyme). The editor, an internationally recognized expert in the area of biomaterials, has combined knowledge from the fields of medicine, pharmacology, physiology, polymer chemistry, biochemistry, metallurgy, and organic chemistry.