# US 7,407,377 B2 · Balloon folding technology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,377 B2 - Document ID: US7407377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/180,146 - Filed: 2005-07-13 - Published: 2005-11-03 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2001-03-26 - Assignees: Machine Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Tom Motsenbocker; Edward Goff; Daniel J. Kasprzyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407377B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/1038: {Wrapping or folding devices for use with balloon catheters} - A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)} - B29C 53/086: {bending radially, i.e. deformig the cross-section of the tube} - A61M 2025/1004: {Balloons with folds, e.g. folded or multifolded} - Y10T 29/5367: Coupling to conduit - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus for folding a catheter balloon comprises a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a pleating head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The pleating head includes at least three segments, each having a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length. Each segment has a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a spiral-pleat dimension having at least three channels in communication with a central aperture. Also, the segment centerlines extend therefrom toward the segment distal ends and are oriented away from the central point. The segment distal ends move closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the balloon is disposed around a shaft substrate, aligned in the central aperture and pleated around the shaft substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub. A method of pleating and folding a catheter balloon is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for pleating an article, comprising: at least one stationary member; at least one rotatable member which is moveable in relation to the stationary member; a plurality of segments, each having a predetermined shape with a proximal end and a distal end, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, one said point being pivotally coupled to the stationary member and one said point being pivotally coupled to the rotatable member; the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point, and that the segment centerlines extending therefrom toward the segment distal ends are oriented away from the central point; and the segment distal ends moving closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable member in a predetermined direction, the segment distal ends defining a central aperture having at least three channels extending away from the center thereof, the channels having a predetermined geometry defining the pleats. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each segment distal end includes stop surfaces limiting movement of the segment distal end toward the central point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each segment includes at least two stop surfaces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each segment stop surface abuts a stop surface of an adjacent segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least three channels are formed upon stop surfaces of a segment abutting a stop surface of an adjacent segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least three channels curve in a common direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least three channels angle away from the center of the central aperture in the same common direction that the channels curve, providing a spiral-pleat dimension. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article is a balloon disposed around a shaft, and whereby the balloon is aligned at the central point and the balloon is spiral-pleated on the shaft upon rotation, whereby the balloon has wings which have bases which extend away from a central portion at an angle of less than 90 degrees, the wings further being curved in the direction of the angle. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for pleating an article, comprising: a. at least one stationary member; b. at least one rotatable member which is moveable in relation to the stationary member; and c. at least three segments; i. with a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, one said point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary member and one said point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable member; ii. the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a spiral-pleat dimension having at least three channels in communication with a central aperture, the channels extending away from the central aperture at an angle of less than 90 degrees, the channels further being curved in the direction of the angle, the channel angle and curve geometry defining the shape of the pleats on the article, and that the segment centerlines extending therefrom toward the segment distal ends are oriented away from the central point; and iii. the segment distal ends moving closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable member in a predetermined direction. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for pleating a medical catheter balloon by segmental radial compression, comprising: a. a stationary base member; b. a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and c. a pleating head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub, and including at least three segments; i. the segments each having a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, the distal point being disposed off the centerline and the proximal point being disposed off the centerline, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member; ii. the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a spiral-pleat dimension having at least three channels in communication with a central aperture, the channels extending away from the central aperture at an angle of less than 90 degrees, the channels further being curved in the direction of the angle, and that the segment centerlines extending therefrom toward the segment distal ends are oriented away from the central point, whereby the channel angle and curve geometry define the shape of pleats formed on the balloon; iii. the segment distal ends including a stop surface which limits movement of the segment distal end toward the central point by engaging the stop surface of an adjacent segment, the channels being formed on the stop surfaces; and iv. the segment distal ends moving closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the balloon is disposed around a shaft substrate, aligned in the central aperture and pleated around the shaft substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub.