Balloon - A hollow, plastic cylindrical component consisting of
a body, a proximal neck and cone, and a distal neck and cone.
Balloon Body - The center section of a balloon, normally the largest
diameter and thinnest wall section of the balloon.
Balloon Size - The measurement of the outside diameter and length
of body section of the balloon. The balloon diameter is generally specified in mm
to one decimal place (i.e. 3.5 mm). The balloon length measurement is generally specified
in mm as a whole number (i.e. 40 mm).
Burst Pressure - The average pressure to failure of a balloon measured
at body temperature. Typically specified in psi, ATM or Bars.
Cone - The transitional area between the body and the neck of a
balloon.
Cone Angle - The measurement of the angle from the centerline of
the balloon to the surface of the cone section. The cone angle measurement is generally
specified as a whole number (i.e. 20° ).
Neck - The smaller diameter end sections of the balloon. Typically
a balloon has one proximal and one distal neck. The proximal neck is generally a
larger diameter and a thinner wall thickness than the distal neck.
Neck Inside Diameter - The measurement made to the inside diameter
of the neck sections of the balloon. The neck inside diameter measurement is generally
specified in inches to three decimal places (i.e. 0.035").
PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polyester.
It is not a polyethylene or polyolefin.
Tensile Strength - The radial or hoop tensile strength of a balloon
calculated as follows:
TS = (P x D)/DW
|
where |
|
|
|
TS |
= Tensile Strength (hoop) |
|
P |
= Burst Pressure |
|
D |
= Diameter |
|
DW |
= Balloon Double Wall Thickness |
Double Wall Thickness - The measurement made of the wall thickness
in the body section of the balloon. The double wall thickness measurement is generally
made to four decimal places or 1/10000 of an inch. The value is typically recorded
and expressed in mils (1 mil=0.001") for ease of use and is used as a key measurement
for quality control.