Method and apparatus for treating a malformed eustachian tube

A balloon for insertion into a mammalian eustachian tube having medial portion positioned next to a lateral wall of a nasopharynx, and a lateral portion positioned next to an interior wall of a middle ear, and a middle portion positioned between the medial portion and the lateral portion,

• the balloon comprising a high pressure balloon having a body that includes a medial end configured for being positioned in and/or next to the medial portion of the eustachian tube, and a lateral end configured to be positioned in and/or next to the lateral portion of the eustachian tube, the balloon including a longitudinal axis extending from the medial end to the distal end, an exterior surface, an interior surface defining an air receiving interior, a lateral cross-sectional profile, and a longitudinal cross-sectional profile,
• wherein the balloon is inflatable between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, the body being capable of retaining its desired size and shape when in the inflated configuration,
• wherein the body has an ovaloid lateral cross-section, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the balloon increases along the longitudinal axis from the relatively smaller cross-sectional area at the lateral end, to the relatively larger cross-sectional area at the medial end,
• wherein the balloon is configured to uniformly expand the eustachian tube when in the inflated configuration.