Comparative Study of Degradation Behavior of Bioresorbable Cardiovascular Scaffolds.

This comparative study investigated the biodegradation behavior and mechanism of bioresorbable cardiovascular scaffolds using bench testing under physiological conditions and in vivo experiment. The results show that the molecular weight of the scaffold decreased with respect to time after implantation in both in vivo and in vitro tests. It was found that the molecular weights of the implanted scaffolds in the in vivo and in vitro models decreased to 61.8 and 68.5% respectively 6 months after implantation, but the thermodynamic properties of the scaffold material were not significantly affected by the 6-month degradation. Moreover, the study indicated that in spite of the 6-month degradation, the scaffold maintained sufficient radial strength and mechanical integrity. Furthermore, it was noted that the changes in the trends of the mechanical properties and degradation behavior of the scaffolds in the in vitro model were coherent with the results of the in vivo study, which means the in vitro study of the degradation behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) scaffold could offer clinical relevant data and physical insights to predict the in vivo performance.

Degradation model of bioabsorbable cardiovascular stents.

This study established a numerical model to investigate the degradation mechanism and behavior of bioabsorbable cardiovascular stents. In order to generate the constitutive degradation material model, the degradation characteristics were characterized with user-defined field variables. The radial strength bench test and analysis were used to verify the material model. In order to validate the numerical degradation model, in vitro bench test and in vivo implantation studies were conducted under physiological and normal conditions. The results showed that six months of degradation had not influenced the thermodynamic properties and mechanical integrity of the stent while the molecular weight of the stents implanted in the in vivo and in vitro models had decreased to 61.8% and 68.5% respectively after six month's implantation. It was also found that the degradation rate, critical locations and changes in diameter of the stents in the numerical model were in good consistency in both in vivo and in vitro studies. It implies that the numerical degradation model could provide useful physical insights and prediction of the stent degradation behavior and evaluate, to some extent, the in-vivo performance of the stent. This model could eventually be used for design and optimization of bioabsorbable stent.

[Numerical simulation of the multi-dimensional phase-change problem in cryosurgery].

The phase change process in cryosurgery is simulated here with finite element scheme. The calculated results are consistent with experimental results. The compared results confirm the feasibility of the enthalpy model and finite element simulation method. And the successive Freeze-thawing Circle and multi-probe cryosurgery process are further simulated and the characteristic of the thermal field and thermal gradient around cryoprobe are analyzed. The application of enthalpy mathematical model and finite element scheme provide useful simulating means for the cryosurgery and will be beneficial for the progressing and extending of the cryosurgery technology.