Method of balloon formation by cold drawing/necking
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsLixiao Wang, Jianhua Chen, Nao Lee, Daniel J. Horn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a balloon for a dilatation catheter involving the steps of extruding a segment of thermoplastic material, maintaining the center portion at a temperature below the glass transition of the thermoplastic material, drawing the segment to a predetermined length, wherein after the drawing the wall thickness of the center portion does not appreciably change, and expanding the segment in a mold to produce the balloon.
Claims24
A method of making a balloon for a catheter device, comprising the steps:
- extruding a segment of thermoplastic material having a predetermined wall thickness and length, the segment having a proximal end, a distal end and a center portion;
- drawing the segment to a predetermined length while maintaining the temperature of the segment below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material, or below the highest glass transition temperature if the material is a block copolymer, wherein the proximal end forms a first waist;
- and
- expanding the segment having a first waist in a mold to produce the balloon, the balloon having a body portion, wherein the center portion of said segment becomes the balloon body portion.
A method of making a balloon for a catheter device, comprising the steps:
- extruding a segment of thermoplastic material, the segment having a proximal end, a distal end and a center portion;
- maintaining the segment at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material or below the highest glass transition temperature if the material is a block copolymer;
- drawing the proximal end to a predetermined length while maintaining the segment below said glass transition temperature, wherein the proximal end forms a first waist;
- and
- expanding the segment having a first waist in a mold to produce the balloon, the balloon having a body portion, wherein the center portion of said segment becomes the balloon body portion, and the distal end, due to expansion in the mold, stretching longitudinally to form a second waist.
A method of making a balloon for a catheter device, comprising the steps:
- extruding a segment of thermoplastic material, the segment having a proximal end, a distal end and a center portion;
- cooling the segment to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the material;
- drawing the segment while maintaining the temperature of the center portion, below the glass transition temperature of the material, wherein, during the drawing, the proximal and distal ends form a first and second waist, respectively;
- and
- expanding the segment having a first and second waist in a mold to produce the balloon, the balloon having a body portion, wherein the center portion of said segment becomes the balloon body portion.
A method of making a balloon for a catheter device, comprising the steps:
- extruding a segment of thermoplastic material, the segment having a proximal end, a distal end and a center portion;
- cooling the segment to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the material;
- drawing the proximal end to a predetermined length while maintaining the temperature of the segment below the glass transition temperature of the material, wherein, during the drawing, the proximal end forms a first waist;
- and
- expanding the segment having a first waist in a mold to produce the balloon, the balloon having a body portion, wherein the center portion of said segment becomes the balloon body portion, and the distal end, due to expansion in the mold, stretching longitudinally to form a second waist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.