Semi-compliant medical balloon

A fiber-reinforced medical balloon that may be inflated and deflated, the balloon comprising:

• a first fiber layer, the fibers of the first fiber layer being substantially inelastic and extending along a longitudinal axis of the balloon, the fibers of the first fiber layer being substantially equally spaced apart around a circumference of the balloon;
• a second fiber layer disposed over the first fiber layer, the fibers of the second fiber layer being semi-elastic and having an elongation to break of from about 10% to about 20%;
• an outer layer formed from a semi-elastic polymer material having an elongation to break of from about 10% to about 20%;
• and
• wherein the balloon has a rated burst pressure of at least 15 atmospheres and exhibits a compliance of from 0.5% expansion per atmosphere to about 1.0% expansion per atmosphere in a radial direction when pressurized from a fully inflated diameter to the rated burst pressure of the balloon.

A fiber-reinforced semi-compliant medical balloon that may be inflated and deflated, the balloon comprising:

• at least one fiber layer, the fibers of the fiber layer being semi-elastic and having an elongation to break of from about 10% to about 20% and wherein the fibers of the fiber layer are encapsulated in a continuous polymer matrix such that the angles between the fibers do not change as the balloon is inflated and deflated;
• an outer layer formed from a semi-elastic polymer material having an elongation to break of from about 10% to about 20%;
• and
• wherein the balloon has a rated burst pressure of at least 15 atmospheres and exhibits a compliance of from 0.5% expansion per atmosphere to about 1.0% expansion per atmosphere in a radial direction when pressurized from a fully inflated diameter to the rated burst pressure of the balloon.