Balloon Bursting Research Articles

The restoration of the Theatre of Arts Academy in Tirana - Acoustic analysis and design of the new Orchestra pit

The origin of the Theatre of Arts Academy of Tirana dates back to the early 20th Century, based on the design of the Italian architect Gherardo Bosio. It was almost abandoned in the last 20 years and only recently a complete renovation has been undertaken, including the extension of the Orchestra pit. Measurements were carried out at different points in the platea, in the gallery and in the lodges, using both balloon bursting and sine sweep convolution technique. The results of the measurements achieved in each of the areas with the two different techniques were compared with each other and with the reference values given by literature. According to the measurements, the Theatre appears to be rather dull, but is nevertheless listed as one of the best theatres in Albania. Acoustic measurements (monaural and binaural IRs) were then used to calibrate the 3D simulation model and to elaborate the new acoustic design of the Theatre, the most important part of which concerns the reopening of the Orchestra pit, which had been closed and unused for the past decades. The paper briefly reports the history of the Theatre and the most important outcomes of measurements and simulations.

A Bayesian method for measuring risk propensity in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task.

The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) is widely-used to measure risk propensity in theoretical, clinical, and applied research. In the task, people choose either to pump a balloon to increase its value at the risk of the balloon bursting and losing all value, or to bank the current value of the balloon. Risk propensity is most commonly measured as the average number of pumps on trials for which the balloon does not burst. Burst trials are excluded because they necessarily underestimate the number of pumps people intended to make. However, their exclusion discards relevant information about people's risk propensity. A better measure of risk propensity uses the statistical method of censoring to incorporate all of the trials. We develop a new Bayesian method, based on censoring, for measuring both risk propensity and behavioral consistency in the BART. Through applications to previous data we demonstrate how the method can be extended to consider the correlation of risk propensity with external measures, and to compare differences in risk propensity between groups. We provide implementations of all of these methods in R, MATLAB, and the GUI-based statistical software JASP.

Predictive factors for compliance with transanal irrigation for the treatment of defecation disorders.

AIMTo investigate compliance with transanal irrigation (TAI) one year after a training session and to identify predictive factors for compliance.METHODSThe compliance of one hundred eight patients [87 women and 21 men; median age 55 years (range 18-83)] suffering from constipation or fecal incontinence (FI) was retrospectively assessed. The patients were trained in TAI over a four-year period at a single institution. They were classified as adopters if they continued using TAI for at least one year after beginning the treatment or as non-adopters if they stopped. Predictive factors of compliance with TAI were based on pretreatment assessments and training progress. The outcomes of the entire cohort of patients who had been recruited for the TAI treatment were expressed in terms of intention-to-treat.RESULTSForty-six of the 108 (43%) trained patients continued to use TAI one year after their training session. The patients with FI had the best results, with 54.5% remaining compliant with TAI. Only one-third of the patients who complained of slow transit constipation or obstructed defecation syndrome continued TAI. There was an overall discontinuation rate of 57%. The most common reason for discontinuing TAI was the lack of efficacy (41%). However, 36% of the patients who discontinued TAI gave reasons independent of the efficacy of the treatment such as technical problems (catheter expulsion, rectal balloon bursting, instilled water leakage or retention, pain during irrigation, anal bleeding, anal fissure) while 23% said that there were too many constraints. Of the patients who reported discontinuing TAI, the only predictive factor was the progress of the training (OR = 4.9, 1.3-18.9, P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONThe progress of the training session was the only factor that predicted patient compliance with TAI.

Two Modes of Balloon Bursting Revealed

A balloon with low internal pressure bursts through the growth of a single crack, but above a critical pressure, it breaks apart from multiple cracks.

A balloon bursting underwater

A buoyant vortex ring produced by an underwater bursting balloon was studied experimentally. The effect of dimensionless surface tension on characteristics including rise velocity, rate of expansion, circulation, trajectory, and lifetime of the vortex ring bubble was investigated. Results showed reasonable agreement with the literature on vortex rings produced by conventional approaches. It was observed that as the dimensionless surface tension increased, the rise velocity, the circulation and consequently the stability of the vortex ring bubble increased; however, the rate of expansion tends toward constant values. A semi-analytical model is proposed by modifying the drag-based model presented by Sullivan et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 609, 2008, pp. 319–347) to make it applicable to buoyant vortex rings. The modified model suggests that the vortex ring expansion is essentially due to the buoyancy force. An expression is also derived for the circulation in terms of the initial volume of the balloon and the depth at which the balloon bursts.

Tetrahedral silicon balloon for endoscopic skull base reconstruction

INTRODUCTION Advances in transnasal endoscopic approaches and the development of instrumentation and imaging technology have turned endoscopic endonasal surgery into the mainstay for treating inflammatory diseases and neoplasms involving the paranasal sinuses and skull base. The expanded endonasal approach (EEA) and its modifications provide access to the anterior skull base, planum, sphenoid, sella, clivus, cervical spine, and infratemporal fossa via the two nostrils. This approach enables endoscopic extradural and intradural tumor resection and skull base reconstruction in a single procedure. Technical advances in reconstruction methods and the development of vascularized locoregional flaps have improved our ability to seal the cranio-basal diaphragm after tumor extirpation. Use of a nasal septal flap (NSF) has reduced the rate of complications and allowed increasing numbers of patients with skull base neoplasms to undergo curative surgical resections by means of minimally invasive techniques. One drawback of this technique is the difficulty of stabilizing the multilayered reconstruction in place after its application. Currently, a 12-French Foley catheter latex balloon is used to support the multilayered reconstruction during the 1st week after surgery. The main disadvantages of this method are: 1) the balloon surface is spherical, thus providing inadequate support to the flat surfaces of the skull base; 2) decrease in the balloon’s volume due to frequent leaks may impair the support of the flap; 3) the latex balloon is weak and frequently bursts due to exposed bone chips; 4) inability to use this balloon in patients who are allergic to latex; and 5) it is inconvenient for patients because it interferes with their nasal breathing. An alternative support for skull base reconstruction that is free of these limitations is needed. In this report we describe a novel anatomically shaped graft stabilizer for endonasal skull base reconstruction.

Bubble surface texture and pulsation due to balloon bursting in different liquids

We study the instabilities occurring during the burst of an air balloon in a liquid. These instabilities are typical for the deformation of an interface between two fluids of different densities, similar to fingering in Rayleigh-Taylor instability (see e.g. Sharp, 1984). In the Video a series of bursts are shown for air balloons in different liquids. When the balloon tears it tracks the surface, generating wrinkles and releasing the pressure inside. Apparently, the texture of the surface during the burst becomes smoother as the viscosity increases. During the burst the surface breaks and generates several small bubbles. Furthermore, the pressure inside the balloon is higher than the external pressure before the burst; once the balloon tears the pressure is released and the generated bubbles pulsate several times (see e.g. Brennen, 1995). Such oscillations are more evident for higher internal pressures.

Alteplase for Hemodialysis Access Graft Thrombolysis

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alteplase, a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, in hemodialysis access graft thrombolysis. From November 1999 to May 2001, 68 episodes of occlusion in 50 grafts (in 49 patients) were included in the study. Occlusion was treated with pulse-spray (n = 41) or lyse-and-wait (n = 27) thrombolysis with use of alteplase. Balloon angioplasty of all identified stenoses was performed. The arterial plug was mobilized with the Fogarty maneuver. Procedural success was achieved in 64 of 68 episodes (94%) with a dose of 2-10 mg (mean = 4.13 mg) of alteplase, allowing successful hemodialysis within 24 hours. Failures (6%) were the result of PTA perforation (one of 68), nonnegotiable outflow occlusion (one of 68), delayed bleeding (one of 68), and balloon bursting and shearing becoming occlusive within the graft (one of 68). Primary and secondary patency rates were 72% and 87% at 30 days, 57% and 80% at 90 days, and 44% and 72% at 180 days, respectively. Arterial emboli (two of 68) were treated by Fogarty balloon retrieval and alteplase infusion locally over the course of 20 minutes. One of two PTA perforations was controlled by balloon tamponade. Alteplase can be used successfully for hemodialysis graft thrombolysis.

A new device for balloon inflation during valvuloplasty: a preliminary report.

A new device using a lever concept has been designed to facilitate rapid inflation and deflation of balloons during valvuloplasty. This report summarizes and illustrates the design features of the balloon inflation device as well as in vitro results of testing of times for balloon inflation, deflation, and bursting.

Transverse aortic wall tears in infants after balloon angioplasty for aortic valve stenosis: Relation of aortic wall damage to diameter of inflated angioplasty balloon and aortic lumen in seven necropsy cases

Aortic wall tears resulting from rupture of dilating balloons in infants undergoing transluminal balloon angioplasty have not been previously recognized. A 2 day old infant had percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty to dilate a stenotic aortic valve, and after multiple balloon inflations the balloon burst. The infant died 2 days after undergoing transluminal balloon angioplasty and at necropsy a circumferential, transverse aortic wall tear was found. To test the hypothesis that rupture of appropriately sized balloons results in similar aortic wall tears, six unfixed, intact infant aortas were subjected to transluminal balloon angioplasty at necropsy: two infants had balloon rupture with inflated balloon diameter similar to that of the aorta, two had balloon rupture with an undersized balloon and two had dilation with an oversized balloon. Transverse wall tears occurred in aortas with similar aortic and balloon diameters; no aortic wall damage occurred with rupture of undersized balloons, and aortic rupture resulted from the use of oversized balloons. Thus, intimal-medial tears in the infant aorta may result from balloon bursting during angioplasty when aortic and inflated balloon diameters are similar.

Morphologic Observations in Coronary Arteries, Aortocoronary Saphenous Vein Bypass Grafts, and Infant Aortae Following Balloon Angioplasty Procedures

Morphologic observations following transluminal balloon angioplasty are summarized from eight adult patients undergoing coronary or saphenous vein bypass graft angioplasty and from an infant with aortic valve stenosis angioplasty. Possible mechanisms of dilation injury and complications of balloon bursting are discussed.

Embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations with bucrylate.

Forty-six patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) were selected for embolization with bucrylate. These patients were assigned to three different groups. Group I consisted of 22 patients with nonresectable AVM's who were selected for embolization with a Silastic calibrated-leak ballon. In 16 or these patients, embolization was achieved, with partial obliteration of the AVM in 14 and complete obliteration in two. Five patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by the balloon bursting and concomitant dissection of the feeding vessel. Four of these patients recovered completely and one died of a brain-stem hemorrhage. A permanent field defect was noted in five cases, and two patients had a transient mild neurological deficit. Group II consisted of 13 patients treated by intraoperative embolization. Complete obliteration by embolization was obtained in four cases, and complete surgical resection after embolization in five. Partial embolization with no surgical resection was achieved in five cases. Three of these patients had a permanent mild neurological deficit and two had transient deficits. There was no mortality in this group. Group III consisted of 11 patients treated by embolization with bucrylate using a new latex calibrated-leak balloon. This balloon has a higher malleability, and takes on the exact configuration of the feeder, with no risk of dissection. This balloon also permits delivery of the faster and larger injection of bucrylate to the arterial feeders of the AVM. Two AVM's were completely obliterated, and embolization was only partially successful in the other cases. Neurological complications consisted of incomplete field defects in two cases, slight memory loss in one case, and transient clumsiness of the arm and face in one case. Two patients have a catheter permanently glued in the malformation, with no neurological complication. There was no mortality in this group.