Development of Magnesium Alloy Scaffolds to Support Biological Myocardial Grafts

A Finite Element Investigation

authored by: Martin Weidling, Silke Besdo, Tobias Schilling, Michael Bauer, Thomas Hassel, Friedrich Wilhelm Bach, Hans Jürgen Maier, Jacques Lamon, Axel Haverich, Peter Wriggers
Abstract: Lesioned myocardial tissue can be replaced with innovative biological grafts. However, the strength of most biological grafts is initially not sufficient for left ventricular applications. Implants that mechanically support these grafts and gradually lose their function as the graft develops its strength are a possible solution. We are developing magnesium alloy scaffolds for this purpose. The finite element method was used to perform simulations wherein scaffolds are deformed according to the heart movement. This allows us to identify highly stressed regions within the implant that need design changes. Preformed scaffolds were determined to have significantly lower stresses in comparison to flat ones. The method of tensile triangles suggests shape changes for notable stress reduction. Furthermore, new scaffold shapes were developed and simulated. Two of them are recommended for further examinations through in vitro and in vivo tests. A completely new alternative scaffold concept is also proposed.
Organisation(s): Institute of Materials Science
Institute of Continuum Mechanics
External Organisation(s): Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Universite Paris 6
Type: Article
Journal: Lecture Notes in Applied and Computational Mechanics
Volume: 74
Pages: 81-100
No. of pages: 20
ISSN: 1613-7736
Publication date: 01.01.2015
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Mechanical Engineering, Computational Theory and Mathematics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10981-7_6 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{36a544103018488b953b47f252528e4f,
title = "Development of Magnesium Alloy Scaffolds to Support Biological Myocardial Grafts: A Finite Element Investigation",
abstract = "Lesioned myocardial tissue can be replaced with innovative biological grafts. However, the strength of most biological grafts is initially not sufficient for left ventricular applications. Implants that mechanically support these grafts and gradually lose their function as the graft develops its strength are a possible solution. We are developing magnesium alloy scaffolds for this purpose. The finite element method was used to perform simulations wherein scaffolds are deformed according to the heart movement. This allows us to identify highly stressed regions within the implant that need design changes. Preformed scaffolds were determined to have significantly lower stresses in comparison to flat ones. The method of tensile triangles suggests shape changes for notable stress reduction. Furthermore, new scaffold shapes were developed and simulated. Two of them are recommended for further examinations through in vitro and in vivo tests. A completely new alternative scaffold concept is also proposed.",
keywords = "FEM, Heart attack, LA63, Left ventricle, Numerical simulation, Supporting structure, Tensile triangles, Tissue substitution",
author = "Martin Weidling and Silke Besdo and Tobias Schilling and Michael Bauer and Thomas Hassel and Bach, {Friedrich Wilhelm} and Maier, {Hans J{\"u}rgen} and Jacques Lamon and Axel Haverich and Peter Wriggers",
note = "Funding information: The authors are thankful to the German Research Foundation (DFG) for their financial support. This project is funded within the Collaborative Research Center 599 (SFB 599) and the International Research Training Group 1627 (GRK 1627). Furthermore, we thank Martina Baldrich who developed scaffold shape 7 and Julian Schrader who developed shapes 8–12 in student projects, respectively.",
year = "2015",
month = jan,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-319-10981-7_6",
language = "English",
volume = "74",
pages = "81--100",
journal = "Lecture Notes in Applied and Computational Mechanics",
issn = "1613-7736",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
}