Response of human coronary arteries at different mechanical conditions

The lack of reliable mechanical data on coronary arteries hampers the application of numerical models to vascular problems, and precludes physicians from knowing in advance the response of coronary arteries to the different interventions. In this work, the mechanical properties of human coronary arteries have been characterized. Whole samples from human right (RC) and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries aged between 23 and 83 years have been studied by means of in-vitro tensile testing up to failure. Knowledge of the mechanical response of human coronary arteries could be applied to optimize the election of vascular grafts or to prevent arterial damage during angioplasty.