Failure of a Heifetz aneurysm clip

A 16-year-old girl died from an acute subarachnoid hemorrhage following the fracture of a blade of a Heifetz aneurysm clip. The clip was manufactured from 17-7PH steel, which on metallurgical testing was found to be highly sensitive to intergranular corrosion. The fracture mechanism was stress corrosion, brought on by the combination of a stress load, an electrolytic environment, and a susceptible steel.