Abstract
The authors developed a balloon catheter system for cerebral endovascular navigation.
The balloon is made from medical-grade silicone. Its outer diameter is 0.85 mm and its length is from 2.5 to 7.5 mm. It has a metal marker, either a silver pellet or a small stainless steel ball, to verify the position of the balloon under fluoroscopic control. There are two types of balloons—detachable and non-detachable. The catheter is made from polyamide with an outer diameter of 0.63 mm and of length from 40 to 50 cm. The introducer system consists of three parts; an introducer sheath of 15 gauge (inner diameter) Teflon tube, a stop cock and an introducer. The introducer is Y shaped, and has a blood reflux blocker and a side port for irrigation. To insert the introducer sheath into an arterial lumen percutaneously, a tip-bent 16 gauge Teflon needle is used coaxially. Release of the detachable balloon is effected by pulling off the catheter. Polymerizing silicone which contains fine silver powder for fluoroscopic recognition of the position and size of the balloon is used to fill the detachable balloon to prevent its deflation after detachment.
