Abstract
Purpose: To assess selected balloon-expandable and self-expanding stents for radial force, flexibility, radio-opacity, and trackability, and to relate these physical characteristics to potential indications for placement.
Methods: Force-strain curves were plotted for each stent and the force required to produce 50% luminal narrowing was recorded. The ability of the stent to show elastic recoil following deformation was also noted. Flexibility was measured by bending the stents against a force transducer and recording the force required per degree of flexion. Radio-opacity was measured by comparing each stent against a standard aluminum step wedge. Trackability was measured by testing the ability of the stent on its delivery system to track over angles of 90° and 60°.
Results: The balloon-expandable stents showed greater radial strength and radio-opacity but, apart from the AVE Iliac Bridge stent, showed poorer flexibility and trackability. The self-expanding stents showed less radial force but were able to re-expand following deformity. They were generally more flexible and had better trackability but lower radio-opacity.
Conclusion: There is no stent which exhibits all the ideal properties required and therefore the interventionist will need to keep a range of stents available if all lesions are to be addressed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Lossef S, Lutz R, Mundorf J, Barth K (1994) Comparison of mechanical deformation properties of metallic stents with use of stress-strain analysis. J Vase Interv Radiol 5:341–349
Berry JL, Newman VS, Ferrario CM, Routh WD, Dean RH (1996) A method to evaluate the elastic behaviour of vascular stents. J Vase Interv Radiol 7:381–385
Flueckiger F, Sternthal H, Klem GE, Aschauer M, Szolar D, Klemhappl G (1994) Strength, elasticity and plasticity of expandable metal stents: In vitro studies with three types of stress. J Vase Interv Radioi 5:745–750
Oberg E, Jones FD, Horton HL (1984) Strength of materials. In: (ed) Machinery’s Hand Book, 22nd revised edn. Industrial Press, New York, pp 240–241
Gotman I (1997) Characteristics of metals used in implants. J Endourol 11:383–389
Shabalovskaya SA (1996) On the nature of the biocompatibility and on medical applications of N1T1 shape, memory and superelastic alloys. Biomed Mater Eng 6:267–289
Ryhanen J, Nicmi E, Serlo W, Niemela E, Sandvik P, Pernu H, Salo T (1997) Biocompatibility of nickel-titanium shape memory metal and its corrosion behaviour in human cell cultures. J Biomed Mater Res 35: 451–457
Palmaz JC, Windeler SA, Garcia F, Tio F, Sibbitt RR, Renter S (1986) Atherosclerotic rabbit aortas: Expandible intraluminal grafting. Radiology 160:723–726
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dyet, J.F., Watts, W.G., Ettles, D.F. et al. Mechanical properties of metallic stents: How do these properties influence the choice of stent for specific lesions?. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 23, 47–54 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002709910007
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002709910007