balloon

1. An inflatable spherical or ovoid device used to retain tubes or catheters in, or provide support to, various body structures. 2. A distensible device used to stretch or occlude a viscus or blood vessel. 3. To distend a body cavity with a gas or fluid to facilitate its examination, dilate a structure, or occlude its lumen. [Fr. ballon, fr. It. ballone, fr. balla, ball, fr. Germanic]

- angioplasty b. a b. near the tip of an angiographic catheter, designed to distend narrowed vessels. See b.-tip catheter.

- detachable b. a small b., attached to the tip of a catheter, which can be released to occlude a vessel.

- intraaortic b. See intraaortic b. pump.

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bal·loon bə-'lün n a nonporous bag of tough light material that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas <gastroesophageal tamponade by introduction of a \balloon into the stomach>

balloon vt to inflate or distend like a balloon vi to swell or puff out

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n.

an inflatable plastic cylinder of variable size that is mounted on a thin tube and used for dilating narrow areas in blood vessels (see coronary angioplasty) or in the alimentary tract (stricture).

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bal·loon (bə-lnґ) 1. a sac that can be distended with gas or fluid, such as after insertion into a body cavity or tube. 2. to distend with air, gas, or fluid.