Novel methods for the mechanical characterization of patches used in carotid artery repair.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is one of the approaches available for the treatment of carotid artery disease, with carotid patch angioplasty the pertinent technique mostly preferred by vascular surgeons. This technique entails an arteriotomy succeeded by closure with a textile, polymer or biological tissue patch. In this work, we propose microbuckling and microindentation as novel methodologies for acquiring the mechanical properties of patches used in carotid artery repair.