Objective To analyze the relationship between fatigue strength and connector length of intracranial artery stents, so as to investigate the exact location of fatigue fracture for the stent. Methods The fatigue life for 3 kinds of artery stents were analyzed by finite element analysis method of fatigue fracture, and distribution map of dangerous points was drawn by means of Goodman curve. Based on F2477-07 standard from American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the fatigue life for 3 kinds of stents was tested. Results If the length of the support connector was longer, the maximum equivalent stress and the average stress in dangerous points of the stent would be larger. If the distribution of dangerous points was more close to the curve of fatigue limit, and fatigue fracture was more likely to occur in the stent. Goodman curves indicated that 3 kinds of stents was safe to be used in the body for ten years. Finite element analysis and experimental result showed that fatigue life near the stent junction was relatively lower, and dangerous points of the stent was located at the arc junction. Conclusions It is reasonable to study stents by finite element analysis, whose results are basically coincided with the experimental data. Fatigue life can be extended by reducing connector’s length for the design of stent structure.
