Optimizing stent retrievers for mechanical enhancement and in vitro testing in acute ischemic stroke models

Abstract

Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mechanical thrombectomy, especially with stent retrievers, offers a promising treatment, particularly for patients ineligible for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) therapy. This study aimed to develop and evaluate novel stent retriever designs to enhance mechanical properties and vessel compatibility. Results We evaluated four stent designs using finite-element analysis (FEA) to assess their mechanical properties. Based on these evaluations, Stent D emerged as the optimal design due to its superior elasticity and adaptability. Comparative testing of Stent D against commercial stents, Solitaire FR and Trevo XP ProVue, revealed the following metrics: radial forces of 3.77 ± 0.01 N for Solitaire FR, 3.92 ± 0.08 N for Trevo XP ProVue, and 4.10 ± 0.07 N for Stent D; flexibility measurements of 0.38 ± 0.11 N for Solitaire FR, 0.91 ± 0.11 N for Trevo XP ProVue, and 0.59 ± 0.05 N for Stent D; deployment forces of 0.37 ± 0.02 N for Solitaire FR, 0.42 ± 0.04 N for Trevo XP ProVue, and 0.32 ± 0.02 N for Stent D; and recapture forces of 0.38 ± 0.01 N for Solitaire FR, 0.45 ± 0.02 N for Trevo XP ProVue, and 0.35 ± 0.01 N for Stent D. Thrombus retrieval rates were 96.16% for Solitaire FR and 95.51% for Stent D. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that Stent D performs comparably to commercial stents, highlighting its effective performance in AIS treatment. Stent D shows promise as a candidate for further clinical evaluation due to its superior mechanical properties and effective thrombus retrieval capabilities.