Ceramic Aneurysm Clip with Titanium Spring.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To design and evaluate ceramic aneurysm clips with integrated titanium springs, focusing on ergonomic application and precision in neurosurgical procedures. METHODS: The clip design was executed with precision using Creo Parametric 3D CAD software. It comprises a zirconia body and a titanium spring for durability and consistent tension and features a four-coil hairpin titanium spring for enhanced closing force and a ball-type head for versatile maneuverability during surgery. To assess durability, closing forces were rigorously measured using a force gauge system, comparing the ceramic clip with the standard Mizuho permanent clip over 30 open-close cycles. For the assessment of magnetic resonance (MR) artifacts, both the ceramic and Yasargil clips were evaluated using a 3 Tesla (T) MRI scanner, employing specific imaging sequences. RESULTS: The straight type ceramic clip's initial closing force was 1.70 N, dropping to 1.22 N after 30 cycles, indicating a retention of 72% of its initial force. In MRI, the ceramic clip displayed significantly lower measurement discrepancies compared to the titanium alloy Yasargil clip, particularly in high-resolution T1-weighted images. The lowest variance was at measurement point L2, where the ceramic clip showed a 3% discrepancy. Furthermore, the ceramic clip yielded clearer images than the titanium alloy clip, particularly at the clip's end. CONCLUSIONS: Ceramic clips with titanium springs demonstrated satisfactory closing force and superior MRI compatibility, promising enhancements in surgical application and postoperative assessment.