Experimental Safety Evaluation of Inflated Assisting Balloons for Endovascular Surgery

OBJECTIVE: The balloon-assisted technique is one of the methods used for cerebral aneurysm embolization. There are several applications of assisting balloons such as remodeling the neck of cerebral aneurysms, protecting blood vessel branches, and stabilizing the microcatheter. In this study, we measured the pressure inside inflated assisting balloons to assess safety or procedure. METHODS: A T-junction silicone model was used. The pressure inside the balloon inflated to the set herniation levels in the T-junction model was measured using a fiber pressure sensor. We compared the pressure and difference between each assisting balloon. RESULTS: The pressure required for inflating the balloon to the set herniation level in the T-junction model varied depending on the type of assisting balloon. The results suggest that differences in pressure among inflated balloons are likely attributable to differences in the materials used in the lumens of the balloons. CONCLUSION: The pressure inside various inflated assisting balloons was measured for comparison and differences were found. This experiment contributes to the safety of the balloon-assisted technique.