Method of making a catheter balloon

A method of making a catheter balloon, comprising:

• a) expanding a length of copolyester polymer tubing from a first outer diameter to a second, expanded intermediate outer diameter larger than the first diameter, to form expanded tubing having a length;
• b) processing the expanded tubing to form a plurality of expanded intermediate diameter tube segments, each segment having a length significantly shorter than the length of the expanded tubing;
• c) placing one of the segments in an inner chamber of a balloon mold;
• and
• d) expanding the segment to a third outer diameter in the balloon mold, to form a catheter balloon having a blow-up-ratio of about 5 to about 8.

A method of making a catheter balloon, comprising:

• a) expanding tubing having a first inner diameter and outer diameter to a second, expanded intermediate outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter to form expanded tubing having a length;
• b) processing the expanded tubing to form a plurality of expanded intermediate diameter tube segments, each segment having a length significantly shorter than the length of the expanded tubing;
• c) reducing the outer diameter of at least one of a proximal end and a distal end of the expanded intermediate diameter tube segment to form a preform;
• d) placing the preform in an interior chamber of a balloon mold having a large inner diameter section, tapered sections at either end of the large diameter section, and end sections adjacent the tapered sections, the end sections having an inner diameter which is greater than the reduced outer diameter of the proximal and distal ends of the preform;
• and
• e) expanding the preform in the balloon mold to form a balloon for a catheter.