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Design and verification of the testing device for thoracic aortic stent grafts

Yu Zhou1 , Shiju Yan1 , Ailing Zhang2

 

1School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200082, China. 2College of Health Management, Shanghai Jian Qiao University, Shanghai 201306, China.

 

Address correspondence to: Ailing Zhang, College of Health Management, Shanghai Jian Qiao University, NO. 1111 Hucheng Ring Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201306, China, Tel: +86-18616022898. E-mail: zhangailing@gench.edu.cn.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61189/063815kuibzu

 

Received January 22, 2025; Accepted March 13, 2025; Published September 30, 2025


Highlights

● A novel testing device for measuring the radial support force and bending spring-back force of stent grafts has been developed.

● A theoretical geometric model for the bending behavior of stent grafts was derived and applied in numerical simulations, significantly enhancing the simulation results.

● The device’s reliability was validated by comparing numerical simulation outcomes with physical experimental results under varying compression diameters and bending angles.

Abstract

Objective: To design a testing device for measuring the radial support force and bending spring back force of stent grafts and evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: A radial force and spring-back force testing device was designed to integrate with a tensile testing machine. The radial compression and bending characteristics of stent grafts for thoracic aorta applications were analyzed, and the corresponding conversion formulas were derived. A custom stent ring fixture was fabricated, and a five-wave gradient stent was sewn. Both physical experiments and finite element simulations were conducted. Radial support forces were measured by gripping 20%, 40%, and 60% of the stent’s diameter, and bending tests were performed at angles of 60°, 90°, and 180°. The stability of the testing device was analyzed through comparative tests across different compression diameters and bending angles. Results: The device demonstrated high detection precision, stability, and accuracy, with minimal deviation across multiple measurements. The mechanical behavior of the stent observed in both finite element simulations and physical experiments showed consistent results. Conclusions: The testing device developed in this study effectively measures the mechanical changes in large-diameter stent grafts, providing a new reference for testing large-diameter stents.

Keywords: Stent grafts, testing device, bending spring back force, radial support force

Cite

Zhou Y, Yan SJ, Zhang AL. Design and verification of the testing device for thoracic aortic stent grafts. Prog in Med Devices 2025 Sep; 3 (3): 154-162. doi: 10.61189/063815kuibzu.

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