Numerical analysis of stent expansion process in coronary artery stenosis with the use of non-compliant balloon

Abstract

In the paper the authors present an applied methodology, data and numerical results for numerical analysis of the stent crimping process and stent implantation in the coronary artery stenosis with the use of a non-compliant angioplasty balloon. The authors focused on the modeling methodology of balloon angioplasty with minimum possible simplification, i.e.: a full load path (compression and inflation in single analysis), 3D unsymmetrical geometry and discretization, highly nonlinear material models (hyperelasticity, plastic kinematic formulation, crushable foam) and sophisticated contact models (bodies with highly different stiffness). The use of a highly compressible crushable foam material model for an arterial plaque is considered as the most original part of the work. The presented results allow for better understanding of the mechanisms governing stent crimping and implementation.