Finite element method computer modelling of coronary stent expansion showed satisfactory matching with laboratory experiments for radial expansion, elastic recoil, and plastic deformation.
Does finite element method computer modeling accurately predict the mechanical behavior of a new generation coronary stent compared to laboratory experiments?
Finite element method computer modeling can satisfactorily predict the mechanical behavior of coronary stents during expansion, providing a useful tool for stent design and evaluation.
Intravascular stents are small tube-like structures expanded into stenotic arteries to restore blood flow perfusion to the downstream tissues. The stent expansion is an important factor to define the effectiveness of the surgical procedure: it depends on the stent geometry and includes large displacements and deformations, geometric and material non-linearity. Numerical analyses seem appropriate to study such a complex behaviour after a free stent expansion. In this study the finite element method (FEM) was applied to a new generation coronary stent. Results from computations were compared with those from a laboratory experiment in terms of radial expansion and elastic recoil. By means of a scanning electronic microscopy the area of plastic deformation were also detected and compared with those obtained in the numerical simulation. Matching between the different measurements was quite satisfactory even if some discrepancies were present due to the absence of the balloon in the numerical model.
Migliavacca et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Coronary artery stenosis (stent mechanical behavior). Finite element method (FEM) computer modelling vs. Laboratory experiment was evaluated on Radial expansion, elastic recoil, and area of plastic deformation. Finite element method computer modelling of coronary stent expansion showed satisfactory matching with laboratory experiments for radial expansion, elastic recoil, and plastic deformation.