Vascular prostheses with a small inner diameter are a big challenge in biomechanics. Important aspects are compliance mismatch between the natural and artificial vessels, mechanical strength and suture retention strength. To investigate the dynamic mechanical strength and elasticity in circumferential and longitudinal direction a test stand was developed.
Circumferential measurement on ring shaped specimen
Longitudinal measurement on tubes
References:
Grasl C, Bergmeister H, Stoiber M, Schima H, Weigel G. Electrospun polyurethane vascular grafts: In vitro mechanical behavior and endothelial adhesion molecule expression. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2009 Jul 16. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 19609874.
Seebacher G, Grasl C, Stoiber M, Rieder E, Kasimir MT, Dunkler D, Simon P, Weigel G, Schima H. Biomechanical properties of decellularized porcine pulmonary valve conduits. Artif Organs. 2008 Jan;32(1):28-35. PubMed PMID: 18181800.
Sotiris A.Korossis et al. Tissue engineering of cardiac valve prostheses II: biomechanical characterization of decellularized porcine aortic heart valves. J Heart Valve Dis. 2002 Jul;11(4):463-71. PMID: 12150291 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
David W. Courtman et al. Biomechanical and ultrastructural comparison of cryopreservation and a novel cellular extraction of porcine valve leaflets. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Vol.29,1507-1516, 1995