title: Assessment of the trackability, flexibility, and conformability of coronary stents: a comparative analysis.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of coronary stent implantation depend on the mechanical features of these devices when deployed in atheromatous lesions of various morphologies. We evaluated the trackability, flexibility, and conformability of 17 coronary stents using specific mechanical bench tests. The quantifications used a dynamometer for assessment of trackability (maximal strength) and flexibility (stiffness) and a 3D optical gauging machine for assessment of conformability (distance between stent and arterial wall in a curvature). The maximal strength (measuring the trackability) ranged respectively from 0.24 +/- 0.06 and 0.38 +/- 0.03 N (Seaquest) to 1.31 +/- 0.42 and 1.34 +/- 0.35 N (Carbostent), concerning respectively curvatures of 90 degrees (P < 0.0001) and 135 degrees (P < 0.0001). The stiffness (measuring the flexibility) ranged from 0.53 +/- 0.16 (Seaquest) to 1.28 +/- 0.10 N/mm (NIR Royal; P < 0.0001). The mean distance between stent and external curvature (external conformability) ranged from 0.15 +/- 0.06 mm (S7) to 0.57 +/- 0.4 mm (NIR Royal; P < 0.0001). The mean distance between stent and internal curve (internal conformability) ranged from 0.26 +/- 0.13 (S7) to 0.44 +/- 0.12 mm (S670; P < 0.0001). These results may influence the choice of a particular stent adapted to a specific coronary anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Ecole Supérieure de Mécanique de Marseille, IRPHE CNRS UMR 6594, IMT, Technopôle de Château-Gombert, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rieu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barragan
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garitey
authors.forename: Pierre O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Roquebert
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuseri
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Commeau
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sainsous
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D018583:Pliability; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D013718:Tensile Strength