Cavitation at Catheter Tips

Abstract

Cavities or bubbles form in liquids when pressure is lowered to some critical value. Dynamic conditions that can cause low pressure occur at the tips of injection catheters when used with pressure injectors. In a series of model experiments with water and contrast material, bubbles were generated during flows and pressures that are used commonly in clinical angiography. These occurred without residual air in the injection syringe. Cavitation may be a cause of air emboli during angiography and will occur in the absence of air in the syringe.