Fatigue test system and method of testing of tubular implant structures
AssigneeC. R. Bard, Inc.
InventorsMarkus Lorenz, Thiemo Blank, Roman Forreiter
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Abstract
A fatigue test system for repetitively deforming a substantially tubular implant structure which is within a radial range and within an axial range expandable and contractable and which has at least a first and a second end, wherein the system comprises at least a first and second part which are controllably moveable relative to each other, and a first and a second fixture assembly for fixing the first end to the first part and the second end to the second part, so that the system controls in use the position of each of the first and second end of the tubular implant structure.
Claims20
A fatigue test system for repetitively deforming a substantially tubular implant structure which is within a radial range and within an axial range expandable and contractable and which has at least a first and a second end, wherein the system comprises:
- at least a first and second part which are controllably moveable relative to each other, and
- a first and a second fixture assembly for fixing the first end to the first part and the second end to the second part, so that the system controls in use the position of each of the first and second end of the tubular implant structure, wherein at least one of the fixture assemblies comprises:
- an insertable holder for inserting fittingly into one of the ends of the tubular implant structure, and
- at least one embracing holder for tightly embracing that one end of the tubular implant structure that has the insertable holder inserted in it.
A method of connecting a substantially tubular implant structure which is within a radial range and within an axial range expandable and contractable and which has at least a first and a second end, to a first and a second controllably moveable part of a fatigue testing system, wherein the method comprises:
- form-fitting and/or force-fitting the first end to the first controllably moveable part and the second end to the second controllably moveable part;
- providing at least two substantially ring-shaped elastic holders, at least two insertable holders having an insertable end and a fixable end, and a tightenable embracing holder;
- putting around each of the first and second end one of the substantially ring-shaped elastic holders;
- inserting into each end of the tubular implant structure the insertable part of one of the insertable holders;
- providing the tightenable embracing holder tightly around each substantially ring-shaped elastic holder when that holder is around an end of the tubular structure;
- and
- connecting of each insertable holder a fixable part to one of the controllably moveable parts of the fatigue testing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.