“…Such devices can be classified into two types: those that exist for long periods of time, typically designed to be permanent; and those that disappear, or resorb, in the body after they provide some useful function. The former includes both simple, passive devices such as artificial joints and pins,1 as well as sophisticated electronic components such as deep brain electrical stimulators,2 cardiac pacemakers3 and programmable drug delivery systems 4. The latter, by contrast, is currently available only in the form of passive elements such as resorbable sutures5, 6 or matrices for drug release,7, 8 degradable intravascular stents9, 10 and resorbable plate‐screw systems 11.…”