Dilatation balloon fabricated from low molecular weight polymers

A flexible, oriented, dilation catheter balloon having an intrinsic viscosity of not more than about 0.6 dl/gram and a calculated radial tensile strength greater than about 25,000 psi, and consisting essentially of oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

A flexible, oriented, dilatation catheter balloon having an intrinsic viscosity of less than about 0.6 dl/gram and a calculated radial tensile strength greater than about 25,000 psi, and consisting essentially of oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

Medical apparatus for use as or in combination with a balloon dilatation catheter, said apparatus comprising a very thin-walled, flexible, high strength balloon having an intrinsic viscosity equal to or less than about 0.6 dl/gram and a calculated radial tensile strength greater than or equal to 25,000 psi, and consisting essentially oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

Medical apparatus for use as or in combination with a balloon dilatation catheter made by the method of axially drawing and radially expanding a tubular section of low molecular weight polyethylene terephthalate so as to expand and orient the polymer in two directions to form a balloon having an intrinsic viscosity equal to or less than about 0.6 dl/gram and a calculated radial tensile strength greater than or equal to 25,000 psi.