Quantification of the Deformation of the Human Iliac Arteries With Hip and Knee Flexion: Implications for Stent-Graft Design

Abdominal aortic aneurysm stent grafts have been reported to fracture at a rate as high as 8% [1]. Iliac artery deformation induced by cardiac pulsation or musculoskeletal motions has been hypothesized to cause these fractures, but little in vivo data has been available heretofore to test this hypothesis. We have utilized magnetic resonance angiography and image-processing methods to quantify in vivo deformation of the human iliac arteries due to maximal hip flexion.