Single-walled balloon catheter with non-linear compliance characteristic

A method of using an expander balloon attached to a medical catheter to place and implant a stent in a bodily vessel, the balloon having a low pressure diameter and a compliance characteristic described by a continuous nonlinear compliance curve having a compliant initial range and a non-compliant second range, the stent surrounding the expander balloon, comprising the steps of:

• pressurizing the balloon to a first inflation pressure to inflate the balloon beyond its low pressure diameter, the balloon increasing in diameter to a first predetermined diameter in the initial range along the compliance curve corresponding to the first inflation pressure, and in so doing expanding the stent to a first stent diameter in which the stent is placed in the bodily vessel;
• and
• increasing the pressure applied to the balloon to a second inflation pressure sufficient to cause the balloon to increase further in diameter to a second predetermined diameter in the second range along the compliance curve corresponding to the second inflation pressure, whereby the diameter of the stent is expanded post-placement to implant the stent in the bodily vessel;
• and
• wherein said balloon is a multilayered balloon for attachment to a medical catheter, comprising:
• an inner layer;
• an outer layer adhered to said inner balloon layer whereby said inner and said outer layer provide a laminated balloon wall;
• said inner layer being made from plastic material having high tensile strength and low initial distensibility and said outer layer being made from a plastic material having abrasion resistance and distensibility greater than that of said inner layer;
• said balloon characterized by a compliance characteristic described by a continuous nonlinear compliance curve, said compliance curve having a compliant initial inflation range, a transition point and a nonlinear non-compliant second inflation range, whereby said initial inflation range is followed by said balloon during an initial phase of inflation of said balloon and said second inflation range is followed by said balloon during a second inflation phase of said balloon.