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`
`Preparation of Gelfoam Particles Using an Orthopedic Rasp1
`
`
`Faustino C. Guinto, Ir., MD.
`
`Figure 1
`
`A method for preparation of Gelfoam
`particles using an orthopedic rasp is de-
`scribed. Application of the method proved
`practical
`in eight recent embolization
`procedures.
`
`Index terms: Arteries, therapeutic blockade,
`90.129 - Gelatin foam
`
`Radiology 1984; 153: 260
`
`GELFOAM is the most widely used ab-
`sorbable embolic material
`for
`transcatheter therapeutic blockade of
`bleeding sites and for preoperative de-
`vascularization of hypervascular tumors
`or vascular malformations that affect
`
`many body organs excluding the brain.
`
`1 From the Department of Radiology, Division
`of Neuroradiology, University of Texas Medical
`Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550. Address reprint
`requests to author. Received Feb. 7, 1984; accepted
`April 19.
`© RSNA, 1984.
`
`cp
`
`
`
`Preparing Gelfoam particles. The Gelfoam
`sponge is rubbed against the flat surface of the
`rasp. Particles are collected directly in a
`bowl.
`
`It is commercialy available in the form of
`sponges and powder. Gelfoam powder
`consists of fine particles 5—200 pm in size.
`Larger particle sizes, 1 mm or larger, are
`usually cut by hand from the sponges
`using a sharp blade or standard catheter
`punching tool. These method are often
`cumbersome
`and
`time-consuming,
`especially when a larger amount of par-
`ticles is to be prepared.
`
`Recently we have used a putt. bone
`rasp with a flat taper blade (American V.
`Mueller, Chicago)
`to grate Gelfogm1
`sponges into particles of varying Siles,
`The rasp is firmly held in one hand While
`the other rubs the sponge against the flat
`surface of the instrument (Fig. 1). Steady
`pressure during the maneuver produces
`uniform particle size. By applying Vary.
`ing amounts of pressure against the rasp,
`different particle sizes can be produced,
`To obtain smaller particles, only gentle
`pressure is required. The gratings are
`then collected directly in a stainless steel
`bowl for suspension in contrast material
`prior to use. The suspension can be de-
`livered through a catheter as small is 4-F
`in diameter. The preparation of Gelfoam
`particles in this manner proved faster,
`practical, and gratifying in eight } reop-
`erative embolization procedures we have
`performed recently.
`
`References
`l. Berenstein A, Kricheff II. Embolization tech-
`niques used in head and neck pathology. In:
`Bergeron RT, Osborn AG, Som PM, editors, ‘ lead
`and Neck Imaging. St Louis; The C. B. Mosby
`Company, 1984.
`
`260 - Radiology
`
`ETHICON EXHIBIT 1010
`October
`1984
`
`ETHICON EXHIBIT 1010
`
`