Finite Element Analysis and Optimal Design of Shape Memory Composite Material Stents using Taguchi Method

Shape memory stents are used for treating vascular conditions like myocardial infarction, angina, and arteriosclerosis through their shape memory behavior. These stents are inserted into blood vessels to expand them, and their performance in terms of flexibility, elastic recovery, and deformation is influenced by their design. In this study, parameters affecting stent structural design were analyzed using Taguchi method, aiming to design structures that consider flexibility, elastic recovery, and deformation. Reflecting the actual conditions faced by stents, ISO standards were incorporated, and finite element analysis was conducted, considering shape memory composite material properties obtained from tensile tests, specifically hyperealstic properties. Ultimately, statistical significance of stent structural design was evaluated through ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), and an improved optimal design model compared to the existing one was proposed.