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Shape memory alloys have successfully entered the repertoire of serving themselves as different types of prostheses owing to their unique characteristics including the shape memory effect, superelasticity as well as high damping capacity since they were introduced in medical and dental fields more than 10 years ago. For being evaluated as a safe, reliable and biofunctional biomaterial (foreign material) against a living tissue, cell or bone (host environment), they are needed to meet strict requirements including the biocompatibility. This paper was prepared based on a literature survey on the medical applications of shape memory alloys, the mechanical, chemical and biological requirements, evaluation methods, various surface treatments and modifications, and advanced techniques for manufacturing and forming processes from which unexpected applications will be developed in the near future.
Oshida et al. (Tue,) studied this question.