Researchers at Perm Polytechnic University have unveiled a two-level mathematical framework aimed at guiding experts toward repairing cardiovascular tissue vessels with maximum efficiency and safety. The findings were published in a materials science journal.
The new approach promises to reduce damage during the insertion of coronary stents, a small permanent frame placed inside vessels to keep them open, and to enhance durability in clinical use. This development addresses long standing biomechanical challenges in the field.
Coronary stents are employed to widen narrowed blood vessels and restore steady blood flow throughout the body. They are constructed from metal alloys and biopolymers. Yet their use carries the risk of vessel rupture and subsequent injury if forces exceed the vessel’s tolerance.
The researchers set out to control the properties of these devices with precision, shaping the frame and its macroscopic behavior while also considering the underlying microscopic processes. They identified the most dangerous deformation modes that occur when a balloon expanded stent is deployed into a vein.
Roman Gerasimov, a junior investigator in the Laboratory for Modeling Multilevel Structural and Functional Materials at Perm Polytechnic, described simulations that integrate macro scale mechanics with intermediate level physical mechanisms and deformation processes. The analysis pinpointed the most vulnerable segments of the stent design.
The insights gained at both macro and mesoscopic scales will empower biotechnologists to regulate the material properties of such medical devices, fine tune their structure, and reduce the risk of damage during insertion in human vessels. The study, as reported by researchers from the institution, lays out a clearer pathway for safer stent deployment and longer lasting vascular interventions, with results aligned to current clinical needs and standards.
In practical terms, the two-level model offers a blueprint for predicting how stents will behave under the complex load conditions encountered inside the cardiovascular system. By correlating large scale vessel responses with intermediate deformation behavior, clinicians and engineers can optimize stent design, select suitable materials, and plan deployment strategies that minimize trauma to the vessel walls. This holistic view is expected to accelerate the translation of biomechanical insights into tangible improvements in patient outcomes, while supporting ongoing efforts to standardize testing and regulatory evaluation in the medical device industry. [Source attribution: Perm Polytechnic University research communications]