Advances In Helical Stent Design And Fabrication: Studies Of Stent Thermal Treatment, Stent Mechanical Properties, And Stent Interactions With A Simulated Plaque-laden Artery

Abstract

Advancements in processing biomaterials have lead to the development of bioresorbable PLLA drug-loaded stents with different geometric configurations. To further advance the technology, systematic studies have been carried out. This dissertation consists of six specific aims: 1) To characterize the effects of thermal annealing on the mechanical characteristics of PLLA helical stent, 2) To characterize the mechanical characteristics of a PLLA double helix stent, 3) To characterize the physical and chemical properties of PLLA films impregnated with niacin and curcumin, 4) To characterize the mechanical interaction of expanded stent and vascular wall with both model simulation and experimental studies using PDMS phantom arteries, 5) To simulate the stent-plaque-artery interactions using computer models. Results and their significances in bioresorbable PLLA drug-loaded stents technology as well as clinical prospects will be presented.