In this review article, we focus on the various types of materials u
sed in biomedical implantable devices, including the polymeric materials u
sed as substrates and for the packaging of such devices. Polymeric materials are u
sed becau
se of the ea
se of fabrication, flexibility, and their biocompatible nature as well as their wide range of mechanical, electrical, chemical, and thermal behaviors when combined with different materials as composites. Biocompatible and biostable polymers are extensively u
sed to package implanted devices, with the main criteria that include gas permeability and water permeability of the packaging polymer to protect the electronic circuit of the device from moisture and ions inside the human body. Polymeric materials must also have considerable tensile strength and should be able to contain the device over the envisioned lifetime of the implant. For substrates, structural properties and, at times, electrical properties would be of greater concern.
sec1">Section sec1">1 gives an introduction of some medical devices and implants along with the material requirements and properties needed. Different synthetic polymeric materials such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polydimethylsiloxane, parylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyimide, and polyurethane have been examined, and liquid crystalline polymers and nanocomposites have been evaluated as biomaterials that are suitable for biomedical packaging (sec2">section sec2">2). A summary and glimpse of the future trend in this area has also been given (sec3">section sec3">3). Materials and information used in this manuscript are adapted from papers published between 2010 and 2015 representing the most updated information available on each material.