Mock artery distension: comparison of optical, mechanical and theoretical results

The relationship between the pressure inside a cylindrical mock vessel and the change in radius is called radial compliance. It has been postulated that it is the internal change in radius with pressure that has a significant effect on blood flow disturbance or the interaction of a graft or synthetic tube with an indwelling stent or catheter. A variety of techniques are widely used in determining this parameter. Some are direct measurements of the internal diameter and some methods measure the outer diameter along with the use of theoretical calculations in determining this parameter. It is essential to understand and evaluate all the techniques widely used in the cardiovascular industry. This research work is an effort towards making this comparison.