Research International projectsIGA4StentAbout

About

IGA4Stent is a joint interdisciplinary effort of two researchers of the University of Florence, with the advice of an external researcher in Vascular Surgery, aimed at providing innovative and more effective answers to some of the mechanical-related open issues which play a critical role in the onset of post-treatment complications.

The main research objectives of IGA4Stent are:

1. To develop a new super-fast, accurate and geometrically powerful computational approach to the simulation of shape-changing (patient-specific) endovascular stents. 

2. To use 4D printing technologies to rapidly manufacture patient-tailored stents.

The combination of the two main objectives of IGA4Stent defines the true ambition of the project, namely a new paradigm in the design and manufacture of next-generation artery stents. The ambition will be achieved through an innovative 3-step process:

1. Clinical images analysis and rapid reconstruction of patient-specific vessels geometry. Outcome: patient-specific computer aided design (CAD) model directly imported in the structural analysis environment. 
2. Fast IGA-C-based simulation of the shape-changing, including structural analysis, optimization, and design of the stent. Outcome: new patient-specific optimized design.
3. Identification of the most suitable technology and material for the stent AM. Outcome: proof of concept of patient-tailored stent via 4DP. 

The main advancement of the state-of-the-art that our ambition provides consists in the possibility to design and manufacture patient-tailored optimized stents targeting the goal of the project, namely, contribute to reduce complications associated with stent-related failures. Our ambition aims to reduce post-repair complications due to the ability to match the specific vessel geometry, avoid suboptimal sizing that may lead to mispositioning, tune the scaffold strength, as well as degradation and drug loading and release capacities.