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Industrial Liaison Group:
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Bioresorbable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) stents hold significant potential for treating damaged arteries. Unlike permanent stents, these tubes can naturally dissolve within the body over time, offering advantages such as reduced thrombosis risk and the potential for reoperation. However, the brittleness and limited strength of PLLA stents present challenges that need to be addressed for wider application.
Researchers from Boston Scientific and Queen’s University Belfast have utilised microfocus wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and multi-directional tensile tests at Diamond to explore how the microstructure and mechanical properties of PLLA tubes, essential components of stents, are influenced by radial and biaxial expansion methods.
Insights derived from this study have the potential to enhance the development and manufacturing of these dissolvable stents, ensuring their reliability and effectiveness for medical treatments.
1.The manufacturing process involves extrusion, tube expansion, laser cutting, and crimping. The biaxial expansion process transforms PLLA into a stronger, more ductile material through microstructure changes.
Image: https://www.scientificanimations.com/, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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