Cryo-Mechanics of Ex Vivo Porcine Femoral Artery

CryoPlasty is a therapeutic technique which combines cryo-therapy with angioplasty [1]. The technique helps to make angioplasty more effective by limiting dissection, vessel recoil, and restenosis [2]. Cryotherapy uses a gas to freeze the tissue to about −10 to −20°C at the balloon inflation site [1]. Another benefit is that it does not leave a foreign object implanted in the body [2]. Cryopreservation is also used to keep whole tissues for extended periods of time. Whole artery sections are preserved in this manner at approximately −80 to −190°C to be used as grafts [3]. Prior experiments have examined total cryofreeze-thaw afftect on the mechanical behavior of arteries [3]. Further studies are needed to determine if cryo-damaging an artery has adverse affects on the regional properties of arteries which could lead to changes in how the artery functions mechanically.