| Summary: | The expansion capacity and accessibility of the side branch is essential for the stenting of complex bifurcations. Since previous measurement methods only provide limited information based on geometrical data of stent cells, a new measurement approach was developed which considers the mechanical deformation capacity of the stent design. This approach provides essential information on the stent with regard to the application of bifurcation stenting. Four different commercially available coronary stents (nominal diameter 3.0 mm) were dilated and a central strut cell was over-expanded by means balloon catheters of increasing nominal diameter (2.0 to 5.0 mm). After balloon inflation, the remaining cell size was investigated for maximum cell diameter and strut fractures. Large expansion capacity without cell damage is taken as a measure of the accessibility of the side branch. In none of the expansion experiments the desired target size could be achieved, which is due to the elastic recoil of the stent cells. Deviations from the target diameter between 14-38% were determined. However, larger diameters also showed a constriction of the balloon, so that in some cases the target diameter could not be achieved at all. No strut fractures occurred even at maximum balloon diameter and pressure (5.0 mm noncompliant balloons). As a result the side branch accessibility differs depending on the individual stent designs. No particular risk for the stent was found by extensive overdilatation.
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