Nitinol Stent Self-Expansion: Superelastic Deployment

This simulator models the deployment of a self-expanding Nitinol stent: a laser-cut diamond-cell lattice, held crimped inside a delivery sheath by stress-induced martensite, that springs open as the sheath is withdrawn. Retract the sheath to watch each freed segment expand outward until it meets the vessel wall or its own unconstrained diameter, adjust vessel diameter to explore correct sizing versus malapposition, and drag body temperature through the alloy's austenite-finish point to see why self-expansion can stall when the design margin to body temperature is too small. Live readouts track deployed diameter, outward force, and strut apex strain, plotted against an idealized superelastic stress-strain hysteresis loop that distinguishes the loading (crimping) path from the unloading (self-expansion) path.