Block copolymer elastomer catheter balloons
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsLixiao Wang, Jianhua Chen
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Abstract
Balloons for medical devices, particularly balloon angioplasty catheters, which have hybrid compliance curves in which growth rate slows at higher pressures are made from block copolymer thermoplastic elastomers.
Claims8
A balloon for a medical device formed from a length of tubing of a polymer material by radial expansion of the tubing under pressure, the polymer material comprising a polyamide-polyether-polyester, the balloon having a compliance curve characterized by a hybrid compliance curve in which a segment of the curve between 6 atm and 10 atm has a slope corresponding to a growth rate of from about 1.5% to about 5% per atm from a reference diameter at 6 atm and a second segment of the curve between 12 and 16 atm has a growth rate of from about 0.3% to about 1.5% per atm from a reference diameter at 12 atm.
A balloon for a medical device characterized by a wall strength of at least 18,000 psi, a distension over the range of 88-235 psi of at least 12% and a non-linear compliance curve comprising initial and final segments, the initial segment having a growth rate greater than the final segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.