Effects of balloon dilatation on ePTFE structural characteristics.

摘要: The search for less invasive treatments cardiovascular disease has lead to the development of endovascular stent grafts, metallic and alloy stents surrounded by prosthetic vascular graft material. Introduced intravascularly, deployment grafts requires balloon dilatation device which results in expansion along with We hypothesized that would alter physical structure In this study, noncompliant angioplasty balloons were used dilate expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), a material commonly stent-graft technology. maximal outer diameter (inflated within lumen) recoiled (balloon removed) two types ePTFE, 3-mm inside (i.d.) thin wall (30-μm internodal distance) 4-mm i.d. standard distance), measured compare recoil. Following dilatation, ePTFE samples prepared scanning electron microscopic examination following parameters measured: thickness, distance, nodal width, interfiber fiber width. primary both approximately 20% regardless inflated diameter. However, eight repetitive dilatations, recoil decreased 10%. Scanning analysis revealed variations distance significant decreases distance. Fiber width was significantly 3 mm, but not 4 mm ePTFE. Our data support our initial hypothesis alters © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 36, 498–507, 1997.