OSCILLATING BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY - DOES PRESSURE OSCILLATION REACH THEBALLOON

Oscillating pressure inflations may minimize trauma to the coronary ar tery during coronary angioplasty. We measured in vitro diameters of po lyolefin copolymer compliant angioplasty balloons (as a surrogate for pressure) during pressure oscillation at the inflater to determine if pressure oscillations at the inflater were conducted to the balloon. B alloon diameter oscillation increased as cycle length and inflater pre ssure amplitude increased, Currently practiced oscillating inflation ( cycle length 2-3 sec, amplitude 2-3 atm) did not effectively transmit oscillation to the balloon. Clinically feasible optimal balloon oscill ation was achieved at a cycle length of 6 sec and pressure amplitude o f about 3 atm. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.