A computational study of fatigue resistance of nitinol stents subjected to walk?induced femoropopliteal artery motion

Fatigue resistance of nitinol stents implanted in femoropopliteal arteries is a critical issue because their harsh biomechanical environment. Limb flexions due to daily walk expose the and, subsequently, large cyclic deformations, which may lead fatigue failure smart self-expandable stents. For first time, this paper utilised up-to-date measurements walk-induced motion human artery investigate behaviour stent after implantation. The study was carried out by modelling processes angioplasty, crimping, self-expansion and deformation under diastolic-systolic blood pressure, repetitive bending, torsion axial compression as well combination. highest risk occurs combined loading condition, with bending contributing most, followed torsion. pulsatile pressure alone hardly causes any stent. work significant for understanding improving performance through innovative design procedural optimisation.