KINEMATICS OF QUASISTATIC INFLATION OF A CATHETER BALLOON MADE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL: SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENT

摘要

Based upon a nonlinear membrane theory, a theoretical model is proposed for simulating a quasistatic deformation process of a catheter balloon made of an elastomeric material and inflated by the internal pressure acting across the membrane of the balloon. A Lagrangian approach is utilized to describe a material particle's motion during inflation. The deformation field and the system of governing equations are determined in terms of the principal stretches and the Cauchy stresses. With incorporation of the constitutive laws of hyperelasticity and a set of proper boundary conditions, the numerical scheme for calculating the deformation-loading relationship of the balloon under quasistatic equilibrium condition is developed. The inflation experiments are conducted under the assumed quasistatic condition for various angiographic catheter balloons of different designs. Intermediate inflated geometries and inflating pressures at various inflating volumes are measured and compared with the predictions. It is found that the theoretical model can reliably predict the short-term kinematic behavior of balloon inflation. In addition, the effects of various balloon design parameters on the kinematics of inflation are evaluated.