Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate influences of multi-loads and stenosis in femoral-popliteal artery on fracture of self-expandable stent using finite element analysis. A nitinol alloy stent was selected. The three-dimensional CAD models of the stent and vessel were constructed using SolidWorks. First, the stent was compressed by four cylinder models. Second, the stent was deployed in 50%, 60% and 75% stenotic artery models. Third, cyclic multi-loads were applied to the artery model. Multi-loads were two types. One is shortening of 12.7% and torsion of 0.28 degree/mm (Average). Another is shortening of 6.9% and torsion of 0.14 degree/mm (Half of average). When average loads were applied, strain amplitude of stent were 0.61%, 0.75%, and 0.87% in 50%, 60% and 75% stenotic model. When half of average loads were applied, those were 0.36%, 0.41%, and 0.54%. According to constant-life diagrams of average loads, when the stent was deployed in over 60% stenotic artery model, risk of fracture was high. This study indicated that risk of fracture is increased by multi-loads and stenosis.
