Coronary stents used to open a closed artery are made of a Ni-Ti alloy.  This alloy has the property that it changes shape (and elastic properties) upon heating and return to their original shape (and elastic properties) upon cooling.  Alloys of this class have been nicknamed shape memory alloys (SMA) or memory metal.  In biomedical applications, the composition of the alloy is fine tuned for the shape change to occur at the body temperature. Materials research issues are ongoing to improve the biocompatability and long term reliability of the stents.

The main curriculum in this module was developed by Dr. Stacy Gleixner, San Jose State University

Project Stuff

• PowerPoint Tutorial Assignment for Section 1
• Poster Assignment for Section 2
  • Directions for Poster Session

Team Work Stuff

• Team Evaluation Form (to be handed in with project)

General Links

• As you get started on the project.  Check out these links for some general resources on biomedical stents.

Class 1 & 2: Overview of Biomaterials, Crystal Structure

• Learning Objectives
• Reading Assignment
• Lecture Notes
• In Class Exercise: 2-D Lattice and Basis
• In Class Exercise: FCC and BCC Lattices

Class 3: Defects

• Learning Objectives
• Reading Assignment
• Lecture Notes

Class 4: Mechanical Properties

• Learning Objectives
• Reading Assignment
• Lecture Notes
• In-class Exercise: Nitinol Stress Strain Diagram

Class 5: Strengthening Mechanisms

• Learning Objectives
• Reading Assignment
• Lecture Notes
• In-Class Critically Resolved Shear Stress

Class 6 & 7: Phase Diagrams

• Learning Objectives
• Reading Assignment
• Lecture Notes
• Al-Ni Phase Diagram In-class Exercise
• Nitinol Phase Diagram In-class Exercise

This is a multi-university effort with contributions from:

Chemical and Materials Engineering Prof. Stacy Gleixner	Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Prof. Olivia Graeve	Materials Science and Engineering Prof. Elliot Douglas
Engineering Prof. Laura Demsetz		Materials Science and Engineering Prof. Amy Moll

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number DUE #0341633.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This page is maintained by Prof. Stacy Gleixner.  
San Jose State University
Questions or problems please send email to gleixner@email.sjsu.edu or call (408)924-4051.
The page was last updated 04/26/06 .