A new approach to planning in vitro and in vivo experiments for cardiovascular stents. (1) Fundamentals of design procedures

Abstract

While the use of cardiovascular stents is internationally widespread re-stenosis remains a common problem. There are a number of different designs, and this project seeks for design improvements leading to a reduction in re-stenosis rates. The haemodynamics of the stent as used in a patient is viewed as one of the major concerns, and the authors have already applied Computational Fluid Dynamics in investigating this. In this more comprehensive study, however, the novel approach of applying two formal engineering design procedures is used, namely Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Robust Engineering Design (RED). In this paper, the two procedures are explained and compared in the context of their application to the design of stents.