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Fracturing and stretching of angioplasty balloon catheters under bending with tension

Departments of Radiodiagnosis and Civil Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK ^* Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Eight catheters from five manufacturers have been subjected to tests which combined bending and tension. Three failure mechanisms have been identified. These included separation of the balloon from its proximal attachment to the shaft, fracture of the shaft at its junction with the balloon, and undue ductility of the shaft. It is concluded that good catheter design should ensure that there is no sudden change in stiffness along the length of the catheter, and that the optimum relationship of ductility to stiffness has not yet been defined for catheters. Recommendations relating to these characteristics could be included in the British Standards relating to angioplasty balloon catheters.

Key Words: Angioplasty • Catheterization • Balloon catheters

Received for publication January 1, 1990. Revision received September 1, 1990.