Balloon wing forming apparatus and method
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for shaping at least a portion of a medical balloon comprise a balloon shaping device capable of applying a radial inward force to at least a portion of the medical balloon and at least one vibratory device capable of applying vibratory energy to the at least a portion of the medical balloon.
1. A method of shaping a medical balloon, the method comprising:
applying a radially inward force to at least a portion of the medical balloon; and
vibrating the at least a portion of the medical balloon.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radially inward force is applied to the at least a portion of a medical balloon at substantially the same time as at least a portion of a medical balloon is vibrated.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of a medical balloon is vibrated ultrasonically.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical balloon is disposed about a catheter shaft.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the radially inward force is applied to a plurality of longitudinal segments of the medical balloon.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the balloon comprises a body region positioned between a first cone region and a second cone region, the plurality of longitudinal segments extending substantially through the first cone region, the body and the second cone region.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein application of the inward radial force deforms the plurality of longitadinal. segments of the balloon to form a plurality of wings.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating at least a portion of the medical balloon.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least a portion of the medical balloon is vibrated at at least one frequency selected from the group consisting of: harmonic frequencies, subharmonic frequencies, ultrasonic frequencies and any combination thereof.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least a portion of the medical balloon is vibrated at multiple frequencies.