Method of molding balloon catheters employing microwave energy
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorJan Weber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy, which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then be directed toward the mold, to heat the polymeric material without heating the mold. Once heated, pressurized fluid may be injected into the tube to blow the polymeric material against the interior cavity whereupon the material can cool to form the balloon or can be further heatset by additional microwave energy and be cooled to form the balloon.
Claims19
A method of molding balloon catheters, comprising:
- positioning a parison within a mold, the mold having an interior cavity for forming a balloon;
- heating the parison using microwave energy for forming the balloon, the microwave energy being generated by a gyrotron;
- monitoring the temperature of the parison and adjusting the power of gyrotron based on the measured temperature;
- and
- directing fluid pressure into an interior of the parison when the parison reaches a predetermined temperature level, the fluid pressure expanding the parison into the interior cavity of the mold to form the balloon.
A method of molding balloon catheters, comprising:
- providing a parison of polymeric material;
- subjecting the parison to microwave radiation generated by a gyrotron and being transmitted to the parison by way of at least two optical lenses comprising a focusing lens and a scanning lens;
- monitoring the temperature of the parison;
- injecting fluid pressure into the parison upon the temperature of the parison reaching a predetermined level to form a balloon;
- and
- cooling the balloon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.