Mechanical properties of stent–graft materials:

An aneurysm is a localized blood-filled dilatation of an artery whose consequences can be deadly. One of its current treatments is endovascular aneurysm repair, a minimally invasive procedure in which an endoprosthesis, called a stent–graft, is placed transluminally to prevent wall rupture. Early stent–grafts were custom designed for the patient through the assembling of off-the-shelf components by the operating surgeon. However, nowadays, stent–grafts have become a commercial product. The existing endoprostheses differ in several aspects, such as shape design and materials, but they have in common a metallic scaffold with a polymeric covering membrane. This article aims to gather relevant information for those who wish to understand the principles of stent–grafts and even to develop new devices. Hence, a stent–graft classification based on different characteristics is presented and the desired features for an ideal device are pointed out. Additionally, the materials currently in use to fabricate this typ...