In a recent experiment at the Forming and Shaping Technology (FAST) Beamline, researchers from Confluent Medical studied the microstructural evolution of NiTi shape memory alloys during fatigue loading. NiTi shape memory alloys are often used in medical devices including heart valve frames and stents. Due to their critical importance to patient safety, these devices have stringent fatigue lifetime requirements. Industry-standard traditional fatigue testing was combined with state-of-the-art synchrotron measurements to quantify the underlying microstructural evolution leading to material failure and ultimately increase confidence in lifetime predictions for improved patient safety.
Testing Medical Devices at CHESS
"Industry-standard traditional fatigue testing was combined with state-of-the-art synchrotron measurements to...increase confidence in lifetime predictions for improved patient safety."
NiTi shape memory alloy in test stand at CHESS.