Checker balloon winding machine

A device for winding a filament around an exterior surface of a structure concentrically disposed around a distal end of a balloon catheter to provide a predetermined pattern of surface indentations in an exterior surface of the structure, comprising:

• a first rotatable holder for rotating the balloon catheter about a longitudinal axis;
• a second rotatable holder including a raised lip and an interior portion for holding an elongated proximal end portion of the catheter extending transverse to the longitudinal axis and not being wrapped with the filament;
• a winding carriage translatable along the longitudinal axis of the balloon catheter for helically winding the filament around an exterior surface of the structure;
• a heater for applying heat to a section of the balloon catheter having the filament wound therearound;
• and
• a controller for controlling at least the rate of rotation of the holder and a rate of travel of the translatable winding carriage along the longitudinal axis of the balloon catheter.

A device for winding a filament around at least a first portion of a catheter aligned with a longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a carriage adapted for moving along the longitudinal axis while winding the filament around the first portion of the catheter;
• a holder for holding the catheter adjacent to the carriage during winding of the filament, said holder comprising a clamp mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis and a rotatable body adjacent to the rotatable clamp, said rotatable body having a raised circumferential lip for retaining the catheter;
• and
• a controller for controlling the movement of the winding carriage along the longitudinal axis and the rotation of the rotatable clamp about the longitudinal axis.