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Thermomechanical properties, collapse pressure, and expansion of shape memory polymer neurovascular stent prototypes
Author(s) -
Baer Géraldine M.,
Wilson Thomas S.,
Small Ward,
Hartman Jonathan,
Benett William J.,
Matthews Dennis L.,
Maitland Duncan J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31301
Subject(s) - stent , materials science , neurovascular bundle , expansion ratio , shape memory polymer , composite material , shape memory alloy , surgery , medicine
Shape memory polymer stent prototypes were fabricated from thermoplastic polyurethane. Commercial stents are generally made of stainless steel or other alloys. These alloys are too stiff and prevent most stent designs from being able to navigate small and tortuous vessels to reach intracranial lesions. A solid tubular model and a high flexibility laser etched model are presented. The stents were tested for collapse in a pressure chamber. At 37°C, the full collapse pressure was comparable to that of commercially available stents, and higher than the estimated maximum pressure exerted by intracranial arteries. However, there is a potential for onset of collapse, which needs further study. The stents were crimped and expanded, the laser‐etched stent showed full recovery with an expansion ratio of 2.7 and a 1% axial shortening. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009