| Bending Fatigue Study of Radiopaque Nitinol | ||
| Mr. Z.C. Lin1, David Mackwicz1, Kelly Pike1 and John Boylan2, 1Guidant Corporation, 3200 Lakeside Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054, 2Guidant Corporation, 26531 Ynez Road, Temecula, CA 92591
Bending fatigue resistance is demonstrated for Nitinol that has been modified to improve radiopacity. Specimens are subjected to strain levels required for endovascular medical device applications. The fatigue resistance, in a bending mode at body temperature, used a sub-size specimen analogous to an endovascular stent strut. The testing was performed in strain control mode. Surface strain of the test specimens predicted by finite element method was verified by a micro-strain measurement technique. | ||