NICKEL-TITANIUM ALLOY INCLUDING A RARE EARTH ELEMENT

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Disclosed herein is a nickel-titanium alloy comprising nickel, titanium, and at least one rare earth element, wherein the at least one rare earth element is selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Tn, Pa and U. The nickel-titanium alloy comprises from about 34 at.% to about 60 at.% nickel, from about 34 at.% to about 60 at.% titanium, and from about 0.1 at.% to about 15 at.% at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy may further include one or more additional alloying elements. In addition to radiopacity, the nickel-titanium alloy preferably exhibits superelastic or shape memory behavior. Medical devices comprising the nickel-titanium alloy and a method of making them are also disclosed.