Medical Gold Plating
Precision gold electroplating for medical devices requiring biocompatibility, radiopacity, and reliable electrical performance, from prototype development through full production.
ProPlate® provides medical gold plating services for a wide range of implantable and minimally invasive medical device components. Our plating processes and quality systems are designed to meet the stringent requirements of the FDA and ISO 13485:2016, with repeatability, reliability, traceability, and performance maintained to the highest standards of our OEM customers.
Gold is one of the most widely specified precious metal finishes in medical device manufacturing because of its biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, radiopacity, and electrical conductivity. ProPlate offers two gold bath systems for medical applications, including a proprietary biocompatible bath developed in-house for specialized applications.
We work with medical device manufacturers at every stage of the program, from initial process development and design validation through production scaling, with both facilities ISO 13485:2016 certified in Anoka, Minnesota.
Benefits of Medical Gold Plating
Biocompatibility
Gold will not cause adverse or toxic reactions when in contact with tissues, skin, organs, or other parts of the body. This makes it suitable for implantable devices, body-contact components, and minimally invasive applications where patient safety is critical.
Radiopacity
Gold is a dense, high-atomic-number metal that is highly radiopaque, appearing bright and distinct under fluoroscopy and X-ray imaging. Gold plating renders catheter-based components, stents, and surgical instruments visible during image-guided procedures, allowing physicians to track and place devices in real time.
Corrosion Resistance
Gold does not oxidize in open air and resists corrosion from moisture, acids, and bodily fluids over time. This is critical for implantable components and devices that undergo repeated sterilization cycles, where long-term surface integrity directly affects device performance and patient safety.
Malleability and Surface Conformity
Gold is malleable relative to other metals, conforming to complex geometries and fine surface features without cracking. It provides highly uniform coverage over intricate details and recessed areas, making it well suited for shape-memory devices such as Nitinol and other high-precision medical instruments.
Electrical Conductivity
Gold maintains consistent, low electrical resistance over long periods without tarnishing. Gold plating is specified for connector pins, electrical switch contacts, pacemaker components, and other applications where reliable, long-term signal transmission is required.
Gold Properties
Gold provides highly uniform coverage over complex geometries and fine features, producing a smooth, consistent plated surface when properly applied. Its excellent throwing power allows gold to coat recessed areas and intricate details effectively, helping to minimize porosity and reduce the risk of pinholes that can compromise the final finish.
Because gold deposits are dense, non-porous, and resistant to oxidation, gold serves as a reliable functional and decorative plating layer rather than a sacrificial undercoat. Gold’s ductility allows it to maintain surface integrity without cracking, and it can be polished to a smooth, lustrous finish, making it ideal for applications where electrical performance, corrosion resistance, and surface quality are critical.
| Gold- Au | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 79 | Thermal Conductivity - W/(m*K) | 320 |
| Atomic Weight - g/mole | 197 | Electrical Resistivity - (Ohm*m) | 2.44E-08 |
| Density - g/cm³ | 19.28 | Electrical Conductivity - (S/m) | 4.50E-07 |
| Melting Point - C° | 1064.18 | Hardness - Hv | 216 |
| Melting Point - F° | 1747.52 | Specific Heat Capacity - J/(kg*K) | 129.1 |
ProPlate Gold Bath Systems for Medical Applications
ProPlate’s primary gold bath system for medical device applications is the proprietary Vizi-Band® Gold bath, developed in-house specifically for precision radiopaque marker deposition on catheter-based components. Soft gold is also available for select medical applications requiring a 99.9% pure biocompatible gold finish.
Vizi-Band® Gold (Primary)
ProPlate’s Vizi-Band Gold bath is a proprietary 99.9% pure biocompatible gold plating solution developed in-house by ProPlate’s engineering team. It was developed specifically for Vizi-Band® radiopaque marker applications on catheter-based and other medical device components.
Soft Gold
ProPlate’s soft gold bath deposits 99.9% pure biocompatible gold and is available for select medical device applications requiring high purity and compatibility with sensitive substrates or regulatory requirements.
Have questions about which gold bath is right for your medical application? Our experts can help.
Medical Gold Plating Applications
Gold plating plays a direct functional role across a wide range of medical device applications. The following are the most common applications ProPlate supports.
Radiopaque Markers on Catheter-Based Devices
Gold plating deposits radiopaque markers directly onto catheter shafts, braided catheters, guidewires, hypotubes, and other catheter-based components. ProPlate’s proprietary Vizi-Band® process enables selective gold deposition onto complex geometries where traditional marker bands cannot be installed. Because the marker is atomically bonded to the component surface there is no risk of marker dislodgment, and lower profiles are achievable compared to machined band alternatives. Gold plating is also used on medical suture rings for arterial, femoral, and venous cannula applications.
Stent Radiopacity
Various stent types require gold plating to facilitate radiopacity, particularly for micro-features where traditional marker bands are difficult or impossible to install. Laser slotted hypotubes, super-elastic Nitinol, wire braided or knitted stents, and laser cut stents can all benefit from ProPlate’s Vizi-Band® selective gold plating process for radiopaque marker coating.
Pacemakers and Implantable Electrical Components
Gold plating is used in pacemaker manufacturing for connector pins, electrical contacts, and other components requiring reliable electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and long-term biocompatibility inside the body.
Battery Casings
ProPlate has developed selective gold plating processes for medical device battery casings where corrosion resistance on specific surfaces is required. Custom underplate sequences are engineered to meet the performance and production volume requirements of each OEM. Full details are available in our Medical Coating Solutions case study.
Nitinol Joining to Dissimilar Materials
Gold plating enables the joining of Nitinol to dissimilar materials such as stainless steel, which are otherwise difficult to weld due to Nitinol’s natural oxidation. By gold plating both mating surfaces, reliable joints with strong tensile strength are achievable. This approach can also reduce component cost by minimizing the amount of Nitinol required. For a detailed technical overview visit our Medical Coating Solutions page.
Rare Earth Magnets
Gold plating is applied to rare earth magnets, such as neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) or Samarian Cobalt (SmCo), used in medical device applications to protect the magnet surface from corrosion and provide a biocompatible outer layer. Rare earth magnets are susceptible to oxidation without a protective coating, and gold provides a durable, corrosion-resistant finish suitable for medical environments.
Cyclotron Targets for Radiopharmaceutical Production
Gold plated copper targets are used in cyclotron-based radiopharmaceutical production for the manufacture of medical isotopes including Copper-64 (Cu-64) for PET imaging and targeted cancer therapy. ProPlate provides precision gold plating for cyclotron targets delivering the uniform deposition, chemical resistance, and thermal performance that isotope production requires. Learn more on our Radiopharmaceutical page.
Have questions about a specific medical gold plating application? Our experts are ready to help.
Gold Plating Specifications
ProPlate provides services per the certified ASTM B488, MIL-G-45204, and AMS 2422 plating specifications. Our services include Type I, II, and III deposits. Company specific specifications can also be provided if requested.
NOTE: ASTM B488 underwent a major revision from 1995 to 2001. The Type callout of the ASTM was revised to parallel that of MIL-G-45204 such that the Type and Codes of ASTM and MIL specs are synonymous. The Types listed below are per the current 2001 revision of ASTM B488.
Gold Plating to ASTM B488-01
Type: Gold Purity
- Type I – 99.7% gold minimum
- Type II – 99.0% gold minimum
- Type III – 99.9% gold minimum
Code: Knoop Hardness
- Code A – 90 HK25 maximum
- Code B – 91-129 HK25
- Code C – 130-200 HK25
- Code D – > 200 HK25
Gold Plating to MIL-G-45204
Type: Gold Purity
- Type I – 99.7% gold minimum
- Type II – 99.0% gold minimum
- Type III – 99.9% gold minimum
Grade: Knoop Hardness
- Grade A – 90 max
- Grade B – 91-129
- Grade C – 130-200
- Grade D – 201 and over
Gold Plating to AMS 2422
2.1: Copper Flash or Copper Strike: a copper flash or copper strike shall be electrodeposited from a suitable plating solution, except as exempted in 3.2.1.1.
2.1.1: When parts to be plated are made of copper or copper alloy containing less than 15% zinc, the copper flash or copper strike may be omitted.
Gold Plated Medical Device Prototype Components
ProPlate offers ready-to-order gold plated prototype components for medical device engineers in early-stage development and design validation. Products are available for direct purchase through the ProPlate shop and through our partner Chamfr.
Vizi-Band®
Sample Kit
Five stainless steel hypotubes with selective gold plating at various thicknesses
Marker Bands
& Electrodes
Gold plated stainless steel marker bands and ring electrodes in various sizes.
Looking for something specific or need a custom prototype configuration? Our experts are ready to help.
Related Resources
The following white papers, case studies, and articles provide additional technical detail on ProPlate’s medical gold plating capabilities and innovations.
ProPlate White Papers and Case Studies:
- Advancing Radiopharmaceutical Production with Gold-Plated Copper Targets — White paper on ProPlate’s gold plating solutions for cyclotron target manufacturing
- Medical Coating Solutions — Insulin pump battery casing, Nitinol joining, and additional case studies
- Catheter Performance Innovations — Gold and platinum plated catheter electrodes, pull rings, and marker bands
- Vizi-Band® — Radiopaque marker coating technology for catheter-based components
Featured Articles and Publications:
- The Case for Precious Metal Plating — Design News
- Using Radiopaque Coatings to Design Smarter, Safer Surgical Products — Medical Design Technology
- Could a Metal-Coating Process Help Both Manufacturers and Doctors — Qmed
- Advances in Extrusions, Tubing and Coatings — Medical Design Technology
- What Can Medtech Manufacturers Gain from Electroplating — MDDI Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry
- ProPlate’s Engineered Metal Coating Solutions Enable Catheter Performance Innovations — MDT Magazine
- The Technology of Tiny Parts — Products Finishing
Awards and Recognition:
- 10 Finalists Chosen for Supplier Innovation Challenge — MDDI Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry
- 11 Must-See Products at BIOMEDevice Boston 2017 — Qmed
- BIOMEDevice San Jose Innovation Prize: Meet the Finalists 2016 — Qmed
- 13 Medtech Innovations to See at MDM Minneapolis 2016 — Qmed
- Who Are the Most Innovative Minnesota Medtech Week Exhibitors — Qmed
- Top 5 from Minnesota Medtech Week 2015 — Product Design and Development
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Gold Plating
Is gold biocompatible for implantable medical devices?
Yes. Gold is biocompatible and will not cause adverse or toxic reactions when in contact with human tissue, skin, or organs. ProPlate’s Vizi-Band® Gold and soft gold bath systems are both 99.9% pure and biocompatible, making them suitable for implantable and body-contact medical device applications.
What gold bath systems does ProPlate offer for medical devices?
ProPlate’s primary gold bath system for medical device applications is the proprietary Vizi-Band Gold bath, a 99.9% pure biocompatible gold developed in-house for precision radiopaque marker deposition on catheter-based components. Soft gold, also 99.9% pure and biocompatible, is available for select medical device applications requiring high purity and substrate compatibility.
What medical device components does ProPlate gold plate?
ProPlate gold plates a wide range of medical device components including catheter shafts, braided catheters, guidewires, hypotubes, stents, pacemaker contacts, connector pins, battery casings, NdFeB magnets, marker bands, electrodes, pull ring assemblies, and medical suture rings. ProPlate also plates gold onto cyclotron targets for radiopharmaceutical production.
What is Vizi-Band® and how does it use gold plating?
Vizi-Band® is ProPlate’s proprietary selective gold plating process for depositing radiopaque markers directly onto catheter-based components. Unlike traditional marker bands that are crimped onto a catheter, Vizi-Band® markers are atomically bonded to the component surface, eliminating the risk of dislodgment. The process allows marker placement at custom geometries, complex surfaces, and lower profiles than machined band alternatives.
Can ProPlate gold plate onto Nitinol?
Yes. ProPlate has developed robust processes to gold plate onto Nitinol, which is notoriously difficult to plate due to its naturally occurring oxide layer. ProPlate plates Nitinol components regularly and has long-standing production experience with Nitinol substrates. Gold plating on Nitinol serves a variety of application needs including radiopacity, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and joining of Nitinol to dissimilar materials such as stainless steel through welding or soldering.
Does ProPlate support medical device prototype development?
Yes. ProPlate’s New Product Process Development team supports medical device programs from early concept and design validation through production scaling. Ready-to-order gold plated prototype components including marker bands, electrodes, pull ring assemblies, NdFeB magnets, and sample kits are also available through the ProPlate shop.
What quality certifications does ProPlate hold for medical gold plating?
ProPlate is ISO 13485:2016 certified across both facilities in Anoka, Minnesota, with IQ, OQ, and PQ protocol execution and in-house chemistry lab capabilities. ProPlate is also RoHS and REACH compliant.