A
system and method of developing better-designed medical devices, particularly cardiovascular stents and endovascular grafts. The
system comprises a geometry generator, a
mesh generator, a stress / strain / deformation analyzer, and a
visualization tool. In one embodiment, the geometry generator receives three-dimensional
volumetric data of an
anatomical feature and generates a geometric model. The
mesh generator then receives such geometric model of an
anatomical feature or an
in vitro model and a geometric model of a candidate
medical device. In another embodiment, the
mesh generator only receives a geometric model of the candidate
medical device. Using the geometric model(s) received, the mesh generator creates or generates a mesh or a finite
element model. The stress / strain / deformation analyzer then receives the mesh, and the material models and loads of that mesh. Using analysis, preferably non-
linear analysis, the stress / strain / deformation analyzer determines the predicted stresses, strains, and deformations on the candidate
medical device. Such stresses, strains, and deformations may optionally be simulated visually using a
visualization tool.