The Origins of Eponymous Aneurysm Clips: A Review

Aneurysm clips are indispensable tools in the armamentarium of vascular neurosurgeons. The history of the development of aneurysm clips is witness to ingenuity and tenacity in treating a potentially devastating disease. Few know the stories of their innovators and the inspiration behind their designs. Hence, we present this historical vignette in an attempt to shed more light on the pioneers who shaped the evolution of aneurysm clips as we know them. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Google Books, and library historical archives, as well as personal communications with relatives, colleagues, and institutions of the surgeon-designers. We present the following aneurysm clip innovators and chronicle their biographies and contributions: Herbert Olivecrona (1891-1980), Frank Mayfield (1908-1991), Charles Drake (1920-1998), Joseph McFadden (1920-present), Thoralf Sundt Jr. (1930-1992), William M. Lougheed (1923-2004), William B. Scoville (1906-1984), Milton D. Heifetz (1921-2015), Gazi Yaşargil (1925-present), Kenichiro Sugita (1932-1994), and Robert Spetzler (1944-present). Although this compilation of eponymous clips is by no means complete, we hope that it provides an informative historical perspective and an inspiration for aspiring neurosurgeons. The history of aneurysm surgery, an entity once deemed inoperable, teaches us the importance of innovation in medicine.