Balloon Inflation System

A method of inflating a balloon and introducing a substance into a balloon, comprising inserting the balloon into a container having a lid with an opening, so that the balloon has its neck open, aligned with the opening and in sealing engagement with the lid;

• urging gas under pressure through the opening into the neck of the balloon and permitting gas to be displaced through a non return valve from the space in the container outside the balloon whilst the balloon is inflated;
• introducing the substance into the balloon through the open neck;
• sealing the neck of the balloon with the substance inside;
• and removing the balloon from the container;
• wherein the substance is a flowable substance, and wherein a valve is operated to permit controlled introduction of gas into the space in the container outside the balloon once the flowable substance has been introduced into the balloon, so as to permit controlled contraction of the balloon around the substance before the neck of the balloon is sealed.

A method of inflating a balloon and introducing a substance into a balloon, comprising inserting the balloon into a container having a lid with an opening, so that the balloon has its neck open, aligned with the opening and in sealing engagement with the lid;

• pumping gas through the opening into the neck of the balloon and permitting gas to be displaced through a non return valve from the space in the container outside the balloon whilst the balloon is inflated;
• introducing the substance into the balloon through the open neck;
• sealing the neck of the balloon with the substance inside;
• and removing the balloon from the container;
• wherein the substance is a flowable substance, and wherein gas is introduced into the space in the container outside the balloon once the flowable substance has been introduced into the balloon, so as to permit contraction of the balloon around the flowable substance before the neck of the balloon is sealed.