Since in 1982 the rst phosphatidylcholineanalogues-containingvinyl monomer 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl phosphate (MTP) was reported, more and more attention has focused on its polymers, as phospholipid polymers have been found to show excellent biocompatibility. We reviewed the progress of phospholipid polymers in 1997 which covered literature from 1974 to 1997; and mainly focused on phosphatidylcholineanalogues-containingvinyl polymers. This review re ects mainly recent research (i.e., mostly later than 1997) and important development progress on polymeric polyphospholipid analogues. A variety of approaches for design, synthesis, characterization, property investigation and potential applications for phospholipid-analoguecontaining polyurethanes and 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine-containing polymers have been extensivelydiscussed. The polymeric phospholipid analogues include polymers such as side-and main-chain types of phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing polyurethanes, side-and main-chain types of phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing segmented polyurethanes, phosphatidylcholineanalogue-grafted polyurethanes, 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine-containing polymers, 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine-modi ed acrylamide hydrogel, etc. Design and synthesis of phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing diols and their polyurethanes with various commercially available diisocyanates and phosphatidylcholine-analogue surface-modi ed polyurethanes are described. New ring-opening reagents such as 2-dimethylaminoethanol for the main-chain type of phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing polyurethanes, N -methyldiethanolamine for the sidechain type of phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing polyurethanesand trimethylamine for grafting phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing vinyl monomers are discussed. A general reaction route to design and synthesize phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing diols and polyurethanes is summarized. Various phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing segmented polyurethanes are also discussed. Various phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing diols, together with 1,4-butanediol or ethylenediamine as chain extender were used to synthesize phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing segmented polyurethanes or polyurethaneureas, which are based on diphenylmethane diisocyanate and various types of soft segments such as a polycarbonate,polyether, polyester and hydrocarbon diols. Character-310 T. Nakaya and Y. Li ization techniques for phosphatidylcholine-analogue-containing polyurethanes and polymers are also described. These include infra-red spectroscopy, 1 H-NMR, viscosity and gel-permeation chromatography measurements for bulk property; X-ray diffraction methods for structure; dynamic viscoelasticity and tensile measurements for mechanical properties. Moreover, attenuated total re ectanceFourier transform infrared spectroscopy,electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and contact angle measurements for surface properties are all described. Hemocompatibility ...