| Angioplasty is a common treatment strategy in arteries for flow-limiting atherosclerotic lesions (stenosis). In this procedure, a small balloon is delivered to the stenosis via a catheter and inflated. The success of the procedure depends on the plastic deformation or fracture of the plaque in order to expand the lumen permanently. After an angioplasty procedure, vessels can experience elastic recoil and eventually return to their original pre-operative diameter. In order to prevent recoil of the vessel wall following angioplasty, a tubular structure called a stent is often inserted into the artery to provide additional structural support and ensure an open lumen. Although stents are more successful than angioplasty alone in maintaining an open lumen, thrombosis and restenosis continue to compromise the potential utility of these devices.; The research outlined in this thesis is based on the hypothesis that fluid mechanical and solid mechanical stresses are, in part, responsible for clinical failures of vascular stents. The investigation of the mechanical implications of stenting arteries and the design of a newly developed stent (the Compliance Matching Stent, or CMS) are the main goals of this thesis. |
