1.1 This specification covers the material requirements and characterization techniques for glass and glass-ceramic biomaterials intended for use as bulk porous or powdered surgical implants, or as coatings on surgical devices, but not including drug delivery systems.

1.2 The biological response to glass and glass-ceramic biomaterials in bone and soft tissue has been demonstrated in clinical use (1-12)² and laboratory studies (13-17).

1.3 This specification excludes synthetic hydroxylapatite, hydroxylapatite coatings, aluminum oxide ceramics, alpha- and beta-tricalcium phosphate, and whitlockite.