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Lightweight, hollow beads (i.e., microspheres) of micro- or nanometric diameter, typically of less than 1,500 micrometers. These devices are usually manufactured from ceramics, glass, or polymeric materials; some are obtained as a naturally occurring by-product of the burning process of coal. Microspheres made of appropriate materials and uniform diameters are used in healthcare for vessel embolization (e.g., venous malformations, tumor treatment), local radiotherapy (e.g., brachytherapy), and controlled local drug delivery; they are also used for blood-flow measurement, laboratory device (e.g., microscopes) calibration, and other clinical laboratory uses.
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