Abstract
This chapter introduces shape memory materials and discusses the principal differences between shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers (SMP), with much emphasis on the latter to keep within the context of the chapter. It further discusses the synthesis of SMPs and elaborates on the role cross-linkers play in the ultimate properties of such materials. It also gives practical examples of SMP applications and highlights their superiority in terms of their flexibility, ease of processing, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, it provides insights into two emerging examples from research in which specifically designed SMP structures may offer better alternatives to current practises of treating venous leg ulcers and established casting methods of treating broken limbs.