ULTRASONICALLY VISIBLE BALLOON CATHETER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF IMAGING A MEDICAL BALLOON

摘要

A balloon catheter assembly (10) includes a balloon (20) at a distal end (18) of a balloon catheter (14). The balloon (20) is inflated with a fluid (44) which has suspended therein a plurality of particles (46) which may be microcapsules or pellets. The particles (46) are echogenic and/or radiopaque, in the preferred embodiment to provide Rayleigh scattering of ultrasonic waves directed to the balloon (20). The balloon (20) thus becomes visible under ultrasonic imaging and by use of an inflation fluid (44) which can be of low viscosity and low toxicity.