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Feasibility of Crosslinked Acrylic Shape Memory Polymer for a Thrombectomy Device
Andrea D Muschenborn1, Keith Hearon1, Brent L Volk1
1Biomedical Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, 3120 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Smart Materials & Structures
|November 22, 2014
Summary
The study found that Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) acrylate copolymers with 15 mole% bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate (BPA) offered the best balance for thrombectomy devices. However, higher recovery stress is needed for improved clot removal efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Thrombectomy devices require materials with specific mechanical properties for effective clot removal and safe delivery.
- Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) are being explored for their potential in medical applications due to their unique recovery characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using SMP acrylates in thrombectomy devices.
- To determine the optimal crosslink density for SMPs balancing recovery stress and strain capacity.
- To ensure adequate performance for blood clot removal and catheter delivery.
Main Methods:
- Four thermoset acrylic copolymers with varying benzylmethacrylate (BzMA) and bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate (BPA) content were synthesized.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to predict material behavior under crimping strains.
- Fabricated devices underwent force-monitored crimping, constrained recovery, and bench-top thrombectomy simulations.
Main Results:
- Devices with 25 and 35 mole% BPA showed high recovery stress but failed due to brittleness during constrained recovery.
- The 15 mole% BPA devices demonstrated successful constrained recovery and achieved a 5 kPa recovery stress.
- Bench-top thrombectomy was successful in 2/3 trials with 15 mole% BPA devices, while lower BPA content devices failed.
Conclusions:
- The 15 mole% BPA SMP acrylate copolymer offers a promising balance between device integrity and thrombectomy performance.
- Further development of SMP systems with recovery stresses exceeding 5 kPa, without compromising material integrity, is recommended for enhanced thrombectomy applications.
