Preliminary report of a hollow-centered balloon for intravascular occlusion of intracranial aneurysms or arteriovenous fistulas. Technical note.

A doughnut-shaped balloon has been designed that can be inserted intravascularly by catheter to occlude the orifice of an intracranial berry or giant aneurysm or arteriovenous fistula. The blood in the parent artery can continue to flow uninterrupted through the hole in the balloon. In a preliminary study, an arteriovenous fistula was successfully obliterated in a dog. The technique for placing the ballon is described.