balloon catheter

noun

: a catheter with an inflatable tip which can be expanded (as by air or water) especially to hold the catheter in place or to expand a partly closed or obstructed bodily passage, opening, or vessel (such as a coronary artery)

called also balloon-tipped catheter

see balloon angioplasty

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

balloon catheter

noun

variants also balloon-tipped catheter

: a catheter with an inflatable tip which can be expanded (as by air or water) especially to hold the catheter in place or to expand a partly closed or obstructed bodily passage, opening, or vessel (as a coronary artery) see balloon angioplasty, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty