[Characteristic mechanical properties of balloon-expandable peripheral stent systems]

To measure in vitro geometric-mechanical characteristics of balloon-expandable peripheral stent systems for determining suitability for specific vascular regions.

Balloon-expandable stents including their delivery systems manufactured by Guidant (OTW Megalink trade mark ), Inflow Dynamics (Antares), Medtronic (AVE Bridge trade mark ), Biotronik (Peiron trade mark ) and Cordis (Corinthian IQ trade mark ) were selected for this study. When expanded, all stents had a nominal diameter of 8 mm. The length was 38 - 40 mm. Stent profile, trackability, length change on expansion, stiffness, elastic recoil, and radio-opacity in the crimped and expanded state of these stent systems were determined with specially developed test methods.

The Corinthian IQ trade mark, Megalink trade mark and Peiron trade mark required the smallest force to pass through the vascular model. While the Bridge trade mark system had the largest profile with a diameter of 2.430 mm, all other stent systems had a significantly smaller diameter ranging from 1.970 mm for the Peiron trade mark to 2.078 mm for the Corinthian IQ trade mark. In the distal region of the stent delivery system, the Megalink trade mark was the most flexible and the Bridge trade mark system the stiffest. Elastic recoil for all stents was in the range of 2.5 % to 3.5 %, with the exception of the Bridge trade mark stent, which had an elastic recoil of 4.79 %. The Corinthian IQ trade mark stent had noticeably the highest radial stiffness. In the expanded condition, the Peiron trade mark was the most flexible while the Corinthian IQ trade mark and the Antares trade mark were found to be the stiffest. Length change (shrinkage on expansion) ranged from 0.54 to 6.57%, with the exception of the Corinthian IQ, which shrunk > 7mm (18.5%) on expansion. All stent systems in the crimped and expanded state were readily visible radiographically.

Specific data of significant parameters are available to aid in the selection of balloon expandable stents systems to be deployed in complex vascular regions. All examined stent systems showed adequate mechanical properties, but clinically relevant differences were found in stent trackability, bending stiffness and shrinkage on expansion.