Due to their high specific strength and stiffness, fiber reinforced structures are commonly used in high-performance applications. Their ability to be manufac-tured in thicknesses around 100μm makes them espe-cially interesting in the field of deployable structures.
Modern deployable structures are mainly used for the folding and deployment of satellites to reduce the stowage volume in a launcher vehicle. However these structures also get a rising interest in medical application for example in the field of heart stents.
A novel design concept for an Heart Valve Replace-ment Stent has been developed at the Laboratory of Composites Materials and Adaptive Structures, which is promising to fulfill the challenging requirements of a biomedical implant.
Non-Invasively deliverable Transcatheter Heart Valve Stents require diameter changes of 250% to be delivered through the human circulatory system to their intended spot in the heart. After delivery, those struc-tures have to deploy reliably and create a radial out-ward force onto the artery walls to be fixed at their intended position. Next to their crucial mechanical properties those structures shall also incorporate artificial polymeric heart valve leaflets replacing the diseased ones. Due to the polymeric nature of the structure the interface between leaflets and stents can be optimized in new ways facilitating manufacturing and durability of the device.
Due to their high specific strength and stiffness, fiber reinforced structures are commonly used in high-performance applications. Their ability to be manufac-tured in thicknesses around 100μm makes them espe-cially interesting in the field of deployable structures. Modern deployable structures are mainly used for the folding and deployment of satellites to reduce the stowage volume in a launcher vehicle. However these structures also get a rising interest in medical application for example in the field of heart stents. A novel design concept for an Heart Valve Replace-ment Stent has been developed at the Laboratory of Composites Materials and Adaptive Structures, which is promising to fulfill the challenging requirements of a biomedical implant. Non-Invasively deliverable Transcatheter Heart Valve Stents require diameter changes of 250% to be delivered through the human circulatory system to their intended spot in the heart. After delivery, those struc-tures have to deploy reliably and create a radial out-ward force onto the artery walls to be fixed at their intended position. Next to their crucial mechanical properties those structures shall also incorporate artificial polymeric heart valve leaflets replacing the diseased ones. Due to the polymeric nature of the structure the interface between leaflets and stents can be optimized in new ways facilitating manufacturing and durability of the device.
This thesis should investigate efficient ways to design and manufacture polymeric stent structures, leaflets and realize their interface. The process has to fulfill highest demands on shape accuracy and mechanical properties while at the same time ensuring integral manufacturing. This includes:
• Literature research on Transcatheter Heart Valves Stents and their requirements, thermoplastic composite structures and their processing techniques
• Familiarizing with the novel concept, the material and the advantages/limitations
• Reevaluation of existing manufacturing techniques for the structures and redesign of the process
• Investigation on the realization of the creation of strong and durable interface between highly deformable leaflets and rigid stent
• Development of a process to manufacture the leaflet and stent structure
This thesis should investigate efficient ways to design and manufacture polymeric stent structures, leaflets and realize their interface. The process has to fulfill highest demands on shape accuracy and mechanical properties while at the same time ensuring integral manufacturing. This includes:
• Literature research on Transcatheter Heart Valves Stents and their requirements, thermoplastic composite structures and their processing techniques
• Familiarizing with the novel concept, the material and the advantages/limitations
• Reevaluation of existing manufacturing techniques for the structures and redesign of the process
• Investigation on the realization of the creation of strong and durable interface between highly deformable leaflets and rigid stent
• Development of a process to manufacture the leaflet and stent structure
Arthur Schlothauer
CMASLab ETHZ
Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zuerich
arthursc@ethz.ch
Arthur Schlothauer CMASLab ETHZ Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zuerich arthursc@ethz.ch