Cardiovascular Stent Application

PLGA50 films are good, as investigated by in vitro biocompatibility studies. This blended biodegradable pol mier can be used as a potential material for blood-contacting medical devices such as self-expended vascular potymer stents and vascular closure devices. 

To keep the lumen open, a stent is placed inside the bocfy. A stent is a small mesh-like tubular scaffold placed inside the coronaiy arteiy 

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Atanasoska LL, Gupta P, Deng C, Thompson J (2009) XPS, AES, and electrochemical study of iridium oxide coating materials for cardiovascular stent application. ECS Trans 16(38) 37-48... 

Shape-memory alloys (e.g. Cu-Zn-Al, Fe-Ni-Al, Ti-Ni alloys) are already in use in biomedical applications such as cardiovascular stents, guidewires and orthodontic wires. The shape-memory effect of these materials is based on a martensitic phase transformation. Shape memory alloys, such as nickel-titanium, are used to provide increased protection against sources of (extreme) heat. A shape-memory alloy possesses different properties below and above the temperature at which it is activated. Below this temperature, the shape of the alloy is easily deformed due to its flexible structure. At the activation temperature, the alloy can be changed by applying a force, but the structure resists this deformation and returns back to its initial shape. The activation temperature is a function of the ratio of nickel to titanium in the alloy. In contrast with Ni-Ti, copper-zinc alloys are capable of a two-way activation, and therefore a reversible variation of the shape is possible, which is a necessary condition for protection purposes in textiles used to resist changeable weather conditions. 

Sgarioto, M., Adhikari, R., Gunatillake, P.A., et al. Properties and in vitro evaluation of high modulus biodegradable polyurethanes for applications in cardiovascular stents. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. B Appl. Biomater. (2014). doi 10.1002/jbm.b.33137... 

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