Welcome to All Sensors “Put the Pressure on Us” blog. This blog brings out pressure sensor aspects in a variety of applications inspired by headlines, consumer and industry requirements, market research, government activities, and you.
Inflating a Nose Balloon
Recently, a friend told me about a harrowing healthcare experience he just had and how pressure came to the rescue. It turns out he suffered about four broken nose experiences when he played sports in high school. In each instance, the coach reset the breaks. Compounded by the effect of high pressure that can be exerted when excessively blowing the nose over many years and other factors, he suddenly had a massive nose bleed (or epistaxis in clinical terms). The bleeding was at the back (posterior as opposed to anterior chamber) of the nose. To stop the profuse bleeding, the doctor inflated a silicone balloon catheter. Although it is a non-surgical procedure, it turned out to be quite painful, since over 120 mmHg pressure had to be exerted to stop the blood flow.
Invotec Silicone Epistaxis Balloon.
Image source: Invotec International.
In contrast, with balloon sinuplasty, a thin balloon catheter is inserted into the nose and the balloon is gradually inflated to relieve blockages and widen the sinus pathways, rather than stop bleeding.
In either case, pressure provides the solution to these health issues.
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