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.