ABSTRACT
Objective To explore influences of the taper and connecting rib form on supporting performance of the stent, and provide an important scientific basis for structural design and clinical selection of the tapered stent. Methods A nonlinear finite element model for radial support performance of a novel balloon-expandable tapered stent was constructed, and the radial stiffness (RS) and stress distributions of the stent at different tapers (0°, 0.565°and 1.13°) and with different structural forms of stent linker (V-shape, I-shape, C-shape, S-shape, M-shape) were analyzed by plane compression. The relationship between structural design of the vascular stent and its radial support performance was studied. Results The RS of 0°stent, 0.565°stent, 1.13° stent was 2.51, 1.61, 0.85 N/mm, respectively. The RS of 0.565°stent and 1.13° stent was 35.86% and 66.14% lower than that of 0°stent (round straight stent), respectively. Except that the RS of C-shape linker stent was 1.48 N/mm, the RS of I, M, S and V-shape linker stents was not significantly different, which was 2.51, 2.61, 2.41, 2.52 N/mm, respectively, indicating that radial compression resistance of these four linker stents was almost the same. Conclusions Compared with traditional round straight stents, the RS of tapered stents will decrease, and the RS of stents will gradually decrease with the the taper increasing. Among all stent types in this study, except C-shape linker stents, the RS of other linker shapes has little effect on the RS of stents. The radial support performance of the stent can be improved by reducing the taper of the tapered stent, without changing the form of stent connecting ribs.