Materials that encounter human tissue both temporarily and permanently must meet the highest standards. Precious metals possess many favorable properties, including biocompatibility, resistance to corrosion, and electrical conductivity. Diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, catheters, pacemakers, and oral surgery applications are typical applications for brazed precious metal

Platinum and gold are radiopaque materials that cause them to show up in an x-ray fluoroscopy image. This makes it easy to locate the materials within the image. Catheter systems use rings or tips made from either Gold or Platinum to create a clear visualization of the medical device in the human body. Stents are made of fine wire and are used in vascular surgery and other endovascular procedure.