Metal-based materials for the development of implanted bio-devices (Invited paper)

Metallic materials are in a peculiar position for realization of electromagnetic shielding and antennas. Implanted devices, sometimes also responsible for vital functions of the hosting human body, should present reduced response to external electromagnetic interferences. In case transmission of data between the device and external environment is additionally required, the device should also be equipped with an antenna. The biocompatibility of such metallic parts is of fundamental importance: being them positioned on the external part of the device, they are the most exposed to be in close contact with the body environment. Investigations on the timely interaction between the metal based materials and the simulated hosting body by standardized physiological solution is described and quantified.