Are intraaortic balloons suitable for reuse?
To assess the safety of reusing single-use intraaortic balloon devices (IABs), 112 used devices were investigated in terms of physical integrity, gas leakage inspection, mechanical performance, surface chemistry and morphology, and physical stability. These IABs were all used clinically only once, and the duration of the IABs in vivo ranged from 6 to 312 h. Macroscopic examination of the balloons and the outer catheters revealed no obvious change in either shape or color. No discernible abrasions or cracks were observed on the balloons. However, 61% of the balloons were creased, and 40% of the central lumens and 21% of the sheaths showed visible bending flaws. Moreover, 65% of the balloons and 38% of the central lumens were contaminated by visible residual organic debris. The physical integrity of each device was verified in a specially designed leakage-fatigue tester for 72 h. Ninety-seven percent of the devices passed the leakage inspection. Stress-strain testing, differential scanni
