Medical balloon having strengthening rods

A non-compliant medical balloon catheter comprising:

• a catheter tube;
• a unitary balloon layer having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis, the balloon layer including a base layer, a first discrete reinforcing layer, and a second discrete reinforcing layer;
• wherein the first reinforcing layer comprises a sheet of textile fabric material with a plurality of fibers oriented at angles to one another;
• and
• wherein the second reinforcing layer comprises discrete inelastic fibers oriented in one of either a first direction substantially parallel to the long axis of the balloon, or a second direction circumferentially around the balloon and substantially transverse to the long axis of the balloon;
• and
• at least one longitudinal strengthening rod connected to the outer surface of the balloon layer.

A method of forming a non-compliant medical balloon capable of inflation and deflation comprising:

• forming a unitary balloon layer including an outer surface, a longitudinal axis, and a circumference, said forming including the steps of
• forming a base layer in the shape of the inflated balloon;
• applying a first discrete reinforcing layer over the base layer, the first reinforcing layer comprising a first sheet of textile fabric material;
• and
• applying a second discrete reinforcing layer over the base layer, the second reinforcing layer being one of a plurality of discrete inelastic fibers oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, at least one inelastic fiber wrapped around the circumference of the balloon substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second sheet of textile fabric material;
• and
• affixing at least one strengthening rod to the outer surface of the balloon layer.