When the balloon goes up: the materials technology of balloon catheters.
Balloons and catheters together form an increasingly important combination in diagnostic and therapeutic minimally invasive procedures. This article discusses how these simple devices have risen in stature over the last decade.
Williams
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Clinical Engineering Department, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK. dfw.ce@liverpool.ac.uk
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003187:Compliance; D003933:Diagnosis; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D013812:Therapeutics