Computational modeling of coated biodegradable stents

Biodegradable stents are a promising technological development, as they temporarily support the stenotic blood vessel during its healing period, leaving no obstacle for possible future interventions and avoiding long term side effects of conventional drug eluting stents. Moreover, the biodegradable stent material forms an ideal vehicle for local drug delivery [1]. Finite element computer simulations have shown to be of great benefit in the design and mechanical characterization of bare metal and drug eluting stents [2]. Because of their complex material behavior, biodegradable stents have created new challenges in the study of stents via computer simulations. To obtain realistic results, a computational framework must be developed that incorporates all characteristics of the stent’s material, including the effect of mechanical load upon degradation and the effect of a possible coating. We have developed the base for such a computational environment in which the mechanical behavior of coated biodegradable stents can be investigated.