Investigations on fitness behaviour of non-porous and porous cardiovascular stent for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

The World Health Organization found that Coronary artery disease kills about 9 million people annually (WHO). Atherosclerosis narrows coronary arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina and heart attacks can result from poor blood flow. Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty is a frequent atherosclerosis treatment. An angioplasty balloon expands a stent into the blocked artery. The enlarged stent scaffolds the blood vessel, allowing blood flow. Dog boning and foreshortening may occur during stent placement in the occluded artery. Thus, stent stress deformation must be thoroughly examined. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software was used to study stent stress fluctuations under pressure related to blood flow. Stress analysis was performed on porous and nonporous stents constructed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK 450 G), titanium and stainless steel for systolic and diastolic pressures of 16 kPa and 11 kPa. As per the simulation results for all three materials, PEEK 450G, titanium and stainless steel, almost similar results were obtained. However, with the perception of the requirement for elastic behavior of the stent in order to serve the purpose of angioplasty, polymeric stents may be preferred. Moreover, the porous cardiovascular stent designed using PEEK450G material experienced low stress when compared to the non-porous stent. As per the observed simulation results, the pressure exerted at the ends is less when compared to that at the middle regions. Hence, the effect of dog boning has been reduced in this study, supporting the requirements of an ideal cardiovascular stent.