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The mechanical and metallurgical properties of carotid artery clamps were evaluated. The pressure plate retreat propensity, metallurgical composition, surface morphology, magnetic properties, and corrosion resistance of the Crutchfield, Selverstone, Salibi, and Kindt clamps were tested. None of the clamps showed evidence of pressure plate retreat. The clamps differed significantly in their composition, surface cleanliness, magnetic properties, and corrosion resistance. The Crutchfield clamp was the only one manufactured from an ASTM-ANSI-approved implantable stainless steel (AISI 316) and the only clamp in which the surfaces were clean and free of debris. The Selverstone clamp was made principally from AISI 304 stainless steel, as was one Salibi clamp. The pressure plate on another Salibi clamp was made from a 1% chromium and 1% manganese steel. Machining and surface debris consisting principally of aluminum, silicon, and sulfur was abundant on the Selverstone and Salibi clamps. The Kindt clamp was manufactured from AISI 301 stainless steel with a silicate-aluminized outer coating. The Crutchfield and Selverstone clamps were essentially nonferromagnetic, whereas the Salibi and Kindt clamps were sensitive to magnetic flux. In the pitting potential corrosion test, the Crutchfield clamp demonstrated good corrosion resistance with a pitting potential of 310 mV and no surface corrosion or pitting by scanning electron microscopy examination. The Selverstone clamp had lower pitting potentials and showed various degrees of corrosion and surface pitting by scanning electron microscopy. The Salibi pressure plate had a very low pitting potential of -525 mV and showed severe corrosion. By metallurgical criteria, only the Crutchfield clamp is suitable for long term implantation.

A properly functioning aneurysm clip is of paramount importance in the surgical ablation of intracranial aneurysms. An appropriate match between the closing force needed to ablate an aneurysm and the force exerted by the aneurysm clip must be achieved. In this study, the opening and closing forces exerted by several commonly used aneurysm clips were tested. There was a strong correlation between the classification of the clips, according to the Dujovny system, and their mechanical behavior. Minimal variability among different lots of the same clip type and minimal hysteresis were generally exhibited by the alpha mobile fulcrum class clips, such as the Yasargil, Vari-Angle McFadden, Scoville, and Mayfield clips. Significant exceptions included several types of Mayfield and Drake clips. In contrast, pivot class clips generally showed twice as much lot variability among different lots, as well as a significant amount of hysteresis. Clips of this class include the Vari-Angle, Heifetz, and Pivot clips. Because significant variations in clip force exist and because several other factors can compound these differences, it is suggested that aneurysm clips be individually tested for their closing forces before they are used in an operation.

Selected commercially designated temporary clips (Acland, Biemer, Kleinert-Kutz, Variangle, and Yasargil) were applied for 1 hour to rat common carotid arteries. Scanning electron and light microscopic studies revealed varying degrees of endothelial damage. The authors believe that further improvements are needed in the design of temporary clips.