Designation:F2606−08(Reapproved2014)StandardGuideforThree-PointBendingofBalloonExpandableVascularStentsandStentSystems1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF2606;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thisguideprovidesguidelinesforquantitativelychar-acterizingballoon-expandablestentandstentsystemflexibilityusingthree-pointbendingprocedures.Guidelinesareprovidedforcharacterizingdeployedstentflexibility,andforcharacter-izingpre-deploymentstentsystemflexibilityintheregionofthestentandballoon.1.2Thisguideisnotrecommendedfortestarticlesthatcannotbeappropriatelyevaluatedusingaspanlengthtostentouterdiameter(astested)ratioofatleast4:1.Testarticlesthatdonotmeetthisrequirementarelikelytoexhibitappreciabledeformationbymodesotherthanbending.1.3Thisguidedoesnotprovideproceduresforcharacteriz-ingthebendingflexibilityofself-expandingstents,self-expandingstentsystems,endoprostheses(stent-grafts),oren-doprosthesessystems.However,someaspectsofthisguidemaybeusefulfordevelopingappropriatethree-pointbendingcharacterizationproceduresforthesedevices.Whilethisguidewasdevelopedwithvascularstentsandstentsystemsinmind,itmaybeusefulforcharacterizingthebendingflexibilityofballoon-expandablestentsandstentsystemsusedinnon-vascularapplications.1.4ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.Thevaluesgiveninparenthesesaremathematicalconversionstoinch-poundunitsthatareprovidedforinforma-tiononlyandarenotconsideredstandard.2.Terminology2.1Definitions:2.1.1bendingflexibility,n—ameasureoftheabilityofatestspecimentobend.2.1.2bendingstiffness,n—ameasureoftheabilityofatestspecimentoresistbending.2.1.3conformability,n—thedegreetowhichastentorstentsystemmatchesthenativecurvatureofthevasculature.2.1.4deflection,n—displacementofthedynamicsupport(loadinganvil)atan...
