title: A comparison of functional and physical properties of self-expanding intracranial stents [Neuroform3, Wingspan, Solitaire, Leo+, Enterprise].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  5 self-expanding intracranial stents Neuroform (N), Wingspan (W), Solitaire (S), Leo(+) (L), and Enterprise (E) were subjected to an in vitro examination and comparison of their physical features and functional properties in order to better understand the clinical advantages and potential limitations of each device.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following features were examined for each stent: visual appearance, radial strength, wall apposition, bending stiffness, gator backing, kink resistance, ovalization, vessel wall coverage, cell size, ease of delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Given are rankings for the 5 stents: radial force at 50% oversizing: L<N<E<S<W; radial force at 15% oversizing L<E<S<N<W; wall apposition: E<N=W<S; bending stiffness: N<L<W<S<E; gator backing: N and W only; kink resistance: N=W<E<S<L; ovalization: W<L<S<N<E; vessel wall coverage: S<E<N<W<L; cell size: L<W<E<N<S; ease of delivery: W<N<L<E<S. A comparative analysis of the in vitro test results with the clinical experience of the authors is presented in this paper.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 5 stents have fundamentally different features and there is no stent that is superior in all tested aspects. The selection in an individual treatment should be based on clinical and technical requirements.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neuroradiologie, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krischek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miloslavski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henkes
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015607:Stents / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods