A Study of Mechanical Properties of Vascular Prostheses under Different External Conditions

Abstract

Biomechanical properties of vascular prostheses measured under different experimental conditions were compared. Strength and viscoelastic tests were conducted both under normal conditions (in air, at room temperature) and under conditions close to the internal environment of human body (in saline, at 37°C). There was a statistically significant difference between the results of measurement of the elastic hysteresis and the Young’s modulus (measured in the linear elastic region) under the two types of conditions. The obtained results prove the necessity of testing the mechanical characteristics under quasi-in vivo conditions. The testing method suggested in this work can be used for this purpose.