Effects of Stent Design Parameters on Radial Force of Stent

Cardiovascular stents are small cylindrical devices introduced in stenosed arteries to reopen the lumen and restore blood flow. High radial force has become an essential feature of new coronary stents. The primary aim of this investigation was to investigate the effects of varying stent "design parameter" on the radial force of stent by using the finite element method (FEM). The generic stent models were designed to represent a sample of the attributes incorporated in present commercially available stents. The finite element model to evaluate radial force of stent was set up based on the stent prototype testing. The results show that amplitude was the dominant parameter in this study. Increasing either strut width or thickness generally improved radial force of stent. However, increasing either amplitude or radius of curvature generally weakened it. In conclusion, FEM can quantify compressive mechanical property of stent and help designers to optimize stent system.