It seems likely, and indeed inevitable, that medical device usage will cont
inue its rapid increase over the next 10 to 20 years and beyond, For surgeo
ns, these new inventions will come in many forms but should take into accou
nt biocompatibility and resistance to encrustations and to microorganisms,
This review focuses on research under way at present in vitro and in vivo o
n materials and coatings, use of bioelectrics, use of artificial organs and
tissues, application of indigenous bacteria, and other alternative device
management techniques, which could well become part of clinical practice in
the future. By necessity, some of these citations are speculative, but sup
porting documentation for their inclusion is presented.