A noble spring-clip: fatigue-resistant electrical connection for implant use.

An alternative method for electrically joining two rigid terminals within the flexible encapsulant of a prosthesis was sought after welded platinum wires suffered fatigue failure when implanted. The advantage of using spring clips is discussed and fatigue tests to compare spring-clips, made for one of two gold alloys, with welded Platinum or Pt/Ir wires are described. Some physical properties of the superior gold alloy are tabulated.