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. 2022 Sep 26;11(19):5681. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195681

Figure 1.

Figure 1

(a) shows the fine-gauge balloon catheter (REN biliary dilation catheter; KANEKA, Osaka, Japan). The tip of this balloon catheter is tapered and only 3 Fr wide. This fine-gauge balloon catheter is compatible with 0.025-inch guidewire and is coaxial with guidewire. In this study, catheters with a balloon diameter of 4 mm or 6 mm were used; (b) shows an ultra-tapered mechanical (bougie) dilator (ES dilator; Zeon Medical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The tip of the ES dilator is 2.5 Fr, and the step between the catheter tip and guidewire is small. The diameter of the ES dilator is 7 Fr; (c) shows a bougie dilator (Soehendra Biliary Dilation Catheter; Cook Japan, Tokyo, Japan). A Soehendra Biliary Dilation Catheter with a 4 Fr tip and a 7 Fr catheter diameter was used for initial dilation. A Soehendra Biliary Dilation Catheter with a 6 Fr tip and a 9 Fr catheter diameter was used only for additional dilation.