Finite element comparison of performance related characteristics of balloon expandable stents

DOI: 10.1080/10255840601086234

Authors: Evin Donnelly (NCBES, NUI, Galway) , Mark Bruzzi (NCBES, NUI, Galway) , Thomas Connolley (Diamond Light Source) , Peter Mchugh (NCBES, NUI, Galway)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Computer Methods In Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering , VOL 10 , PAGES 103-110

State: Published (Approved)
Published: April 2007

Abstract: Cardiovascular stents are commonly made from 316L stainless steel and are deployed within stenosed arterial lesions using balloon expansion. Deployment involves inflating the balloon and plastically deforming the stent until the required diameter is obtained. This plastic deformation induces static stresses in the stent, which will remain for the lifetime of the device. In order to determine these stresses, finite element models of the unit cells of geometrically different, commercially available balloon expandable stents have been created, and deployment and elastic recoil have been simulated. In this work the residual stresses associated with deployment and recoil are compared for the various stent geometries, with a view to establishing appropriate initial stress states for fatigue loading for the stents. The maximum, minimum, and mean stresses induced in the stent due to systolic/diastolic pressure are evaluated, as are performance measures such as radial and longitudinal recoil.

Journal Keywords: Stent; Finite Element Modelling; 2D Unit Cell; Deployment; Recoil

Subject Areas: Engineering, Medicine, Biology and Bio-materials


Technical Areas: