Feasibility of p-V-controlled balloon dilatation - an experimental investigation

In this report, the results of complementary studies of pressure-volume (p- V)measurements on balloon catheters with balloons of low (LC) and high comp liance (HC) used for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty are dis cussed. The measurements were performed with balloons unconfined in air (fr ee dilatation) and also confined in different shells, in the case of rigid shells, a surprisingly high self-expansion of the catheters was found. Alth ough this self-expansion does not contribute to the radial dilatation, it c annot be neglected, but must be taken into account when the success of ball oon dilatation is determined on the basis of measured p-V curves. The inves tigations performed using wrapped shells clearly show the different dilatat ion properties of LC and HC balloons. The results provide important informa tion on the feasibility of controlled balloon dilatation on the basis of p- V measurements performed on-line during PTCA.