Patent ID: 8646325

Claim:
A method for determining a fluid amount for filling a balloon of a balloon catheter arranged in a body vessel, which comprises the steps of: a) evacuating the balloon, b) after evacuating the balloon, providing a defined starting amount of gaseous fluid and using this starting amount for filling the balloon with the gaseous fluid as well as measuring the balloon starting pressure while the balloon is in the body vessel, c) providing a fluid amount of the gaseous fluid such that the total fluid amount of the gaseous fluid is increased relative to the preceding amount, and using the increased amount of the gaseous fluid for filling the balloon inside the body vessel as well as measuring the balloon pressure resulting from the filling or variations thereof, d) comparing the measured balloon pressure or variations thereof with a predetermined target value and repeating step c) until the measured balloon pressure or variations thereof has reached said predetermined target value, e) storing the last-provided fluid amount as a reference value for inflating the balloon during subsequent occlusion cycles in the body vessel, and f) inflating the balloon with the last-provided fluid amount of the gaseous fluid while the balloon is in the body vessel during subsequent occlusion cycles of the body vessel.