Mechanical Performance of PLLA Stent

BACKGROUND Stent implantation is widely used to treat blocked lumen. Stents were meshed structure made of polymers and metal alloys, including stainless steel, cobalt chrome and nitinol [1]. Clinical studies had demonstrated that stents helped to scaffold the diseased lesion up to one year when tissue adapted to the stented environment [2]. However, the permanently implanted stents inside artery were associated with complications such as stent fracture, tissue inflammation, in-stent restenosis and thrombosis [3]. Currently, biodegradable stents are attracting more attention due to its potential long-term efficacy in treating blocked lumens. The detailed characterizations of biodegradable stents are essential for the desired clinical outcomes. In this work, the mechanical performance of Absorb GTI Bioresorbable stent made of PLLA (Poly-L-Lactide Acid) was studied using finite element method (FEM). Both the stent crimping and deployment were quantified towards the optimization of its scaffolding capacity in a limited time.