Two-Step Geometry Design Method, Numerical Simulations and Experimental Studies of Bioresorbable Stents

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Medical Device Design

Background:

• Stent design is critical for angioplasty, balancing vessel support with deliverability.
• Optimizing stent geometry for both expanded function and crimped delivery remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel two-step stent geometry design procedure.
• To optimize stent geometry for effective crimping and adequate vessel support.
• To verify numerical simulations against experimental results using Digital Image Correlation (DIC).

Main Methods:

• Developed a two-step stent geometry design approach.
• Conducted numerical simulations for crimping, deployment, and compression processes.
• Performed experimental tests on microinjected stents.
• Utilized Digital Image Correlation (DIC) for comparing simulation and experimental data.

Main Results:

• The two-step design method successfully identified optimal stent geometry.
• Numerical simulations closely matched experimental results for crimping and compression.
• DIC analysis confirmed high compatibility in displacement results between simulation and experiment.
• DIC enabled detailed inspection of stent deformation and identification of critical areas.

Conclusions:

• The proposed two-step modeling approach is effective for selecting optimal stent geometry.
• Numerical simulations, validated by DIC, accurately predict stent behavior during compression.
• The DIC method enhances the assessment of stent quality and design.
• This work advances stent design by improving the crimping process analysis.