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Titanium aneurysm clips: mechanical characteristics and clinical trial
T Nagatani1, M Shibuya, K Ooka
1Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University School of Medicine.
Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica
|May 11, 1999
Summary
Sugita titanium aneurysm clips offer safe and effective use in neurosurgery, significantly reducing imaging artifacts. While mechanical durability is slightly lower than cobalt alloy clips, clinical outcomes and safety remain excellent.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Titanium clips are known to reduce imaging artifacts in CT and MR scans.
- However, metallic characteristics present challenges, including design limitations and manufacturing difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the mechanical properties, clinical safety, and imaging quality of Sugita titanium aneurysm clips.
- To compare these aspects with conventional cobalt alloy clips.
Main Methods:
- Mechanical testing of titanium clips, including closing force and repeated opening durability.
- Clinical application in 64 patients with 71 cerebral aneurysms using microsurgical techniques.
- Assessment of imaging quality (CT and MR) and clinical outcomes, including clip-related complications.
Main Results:
- Titanium clips exhibited comparable closing force to cobalt alloy clips.
- Titanium clips showed a 10% reduction in closing force after 100 repeated openings, unlike cobalt alloy clips.
- No clip dislocation or deformation occurred; clinical outcomes were favorable, with reduced CT/MR artifacts, though MR angiography showed limitations.
Conclusions:
- Sugita titanium aneurysm clips are safe and beneficial for routine aneurysm surgery.
- Despite some mechanical limitations, they provide excellent imaging quality and patient outcomes when complete clipping is achieved.