Finite element analyses for optimization design of biodegradable magnesium alloy stent

Stents made of biodegradable magnesium alloys are expected to provide a temporary opening into a narrowed arterial vessel until it remodels and will progressively disappear thereafter. Inferior mechanical properties and fast corrosion of the magnesium alloys are the two crucial factors that impede the clinical application of the magnesium alloy stents (MAS). In the present study, gradual strut width, addition of the peak-to-valley unit and introduction of the annealing technology were designed and investigated by finite element analysis in order to improve the performance of the MAS. Two experiments were carried out for a preliminary validation of the simulation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.