Viscoelastic Properties of Vascular grafts: a Comparison Between Small Saphenous Vein and Internal Thoracic Artery

Internal thoracic artery and small saphenous vein are two options to be used as a coronary artery bypass grafts .The purpose of this paper was to investigate the viscoelastic properties of the small saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery under compression and tension at body temperature. The dynamic mechanical analysis was used to measure the viscoelastic properties of the ITA and SSV at each temperature and loading frequency range. Storage modulus, loss modulus and phase angle of the ITA and SSV were measured at the body temperature and under a periodic load with frequency ranging between 1 and 2 Hz. Storage and loss modulus of the SSV was higher than ITA. Furthermore SSV was stiffer and had higher internal friction in compression. While ITA was stiffer in tension, its compression and tension’s loss modulus were about the same. Results of this research can help to improve the understanding of the mechanical behavior of ITA and SSV.