Hydroxyethyl methylacrylate and latex balloons.

Room-temperature vulcanizing silicone and homopolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) have been used to permanently inflate detachable balloons [1] . HEMA is preferred over silicone because it is less viscous and is water soluble. Goto et al. [2] described a commercially available (HEMA A, lnterventional Therapeutics, S. San Francisco, CA) polymerizing substance that includes HEMA as the monomer, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEDGM) as the crosslinking agent, and hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ammonium sulfate as the curing agents. Complete solidification requires a concentration of at least 42% activated HEMA mixture. Double-lumen catheters or single-lumen catheterjvent tube systems provide this required concentration, even in small balloons. A second HEMA mixture (HEMA B, Bait, Paris, France) has recently become available commercially . It also includes HEMA as the monomer, PEDGM as the cross-linker, and hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ammonium sulfate as the curing agents, although at different concentrations. We compared the two HEMA preparations in vitro.