Finite element modeling of shape memory alloy stent insertion in the vessel with consideration of vessel damage

Abstract

One of the common methods to resolve artery stenosis is the insertion of a shape memory alloy stent in the artery. The use of shape memory alloys in the manufacturing of self-expandable stent has expanded because of the superelastic behavior of this alloy. In this paper, we simulated a shape memory alloy stent insertion in an artery to explore stress and damage effects arising from the stent insertion on the artery by using ABAQUS software. To simulate the mechanical behavior of artery, we considered the effect of the inelastic arterial properties (stress softening and recoverable inelastic deformation) that activated under supraphysiological loading in the stenting process, and to simulate stent behavior, the Souza model is used. These two models were applied in ABAQUS by UMAT codes. By using the damage model, the amount of damage in the artery, which is one of the factors of restenosis, is investigated. Also, in this paper, we have used real diseased artery geometry, which was specified from high-resolution magnetic resonance images, therefore the analysis is more in line with reality and it is possible to determine the location of the maximum stress and damage in the artery.