Development of a new niobium-based alloy for vascular stent applications

This study was performed in order to develop a new stent material that would provide reduced MR image artifact compared to current stent materials. Alloy design rationale is initially presented and following this the development of a Nb–28Ta–3.5W–1.3Zr alloy is described, including the manufacture of stent tubing. Tensile testing of this new alloy showed that it had approximately twice the yield strength of current Nb–1Zr material with a 25% higher elastic modulus. The new alloy was also confirmed to have suitably low magnetic susceptibility. Mechanical testing of demonstration coronary stents made from the new alloy were shown to have acceptable compression strength and elastic recoil performance. It is concluded that this new Nb–28Ta–3.5W–1.3Zr alloy is a practical candidate stent material for both coronary applications and peripheral uses such as carotid or intracranial stenting, where reduced MR image artifact would be beneficial.