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US 2014/0277065 A1Published application
Balloon seal stress reduction and related systems and methods
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsCarey V. Campbell, Seana Giardini, James L. Goepfrich, Matthew E. Maulding, Benjamin M. Trapp
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed toward devices, systems and methods that reduce stress being exerted directly onto balloon seals.
Claims29
A balloon comprising:
- a body portion inflatable to a first diameter and comprising a wrapped polymeric material;
- two seal portions, each having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
- and
- two shoulder portions, each defining a transition between the first diameter and the second diameter,
- wherein at least one shoulder portion comprises a load sharing member adapted to inhibit inflation beyond a diameter between the first diameter and the second diameter along at least a section of a shoulder portion.
2 more elements
A balloon comprising:
- a body portion inflatable to a first diameter;
- two seal portions, each having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
- and
- two shoulder portions, each defining a transition between the first diameter and the second diameter,
- wherein at least one shoulder portion comprises a stepped geometry upon inflation of the balloon.
2 more elements
A method for reducing the hoop stress applied to a seal portion of an expandable balloon having a body portion and two shoulder portions comprising the step of:
- placing a load sharing member around a balloon along at least a portion of at least one of the two shoulder portions, wherein the balloon comprises a wrapped polymeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.