Non-shortening wrapped balloon
View Patent ↗A non-shortening catheter balloon having a longitudinal axis and an inflatable balloon able to be affixed to a catheter shaft is provided. The balloon has an uninflated length which remains relatively unchanged upon inflation and is formed of least two helically oriented wrapped passes of balloon materials at a balanced force angle. Methods of making this balloon are also provided.
1. A method of creating a non-shortening balloon with increased burst pressures, said balloon comprising:
a) wrapping a mandrel with at least one first balloon material to form a balloon preform;
b) exposing the first balloon material to heat;
c) removing the mandrel;
d) exposing the balloon preform to internal pressure at a reflow temperature;
e) inflating the balloon preform into a balloon as it is continued to be exposed to said internal pressure at an increased temperature; and
f) removing heat and internal pressure;
wherein upon inflating the balloon preform, said balloon preform foreshortens less than 2 percent.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mandrel of step (a) is wrapped with film at a low angle of between 3 and 54 degrees.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising step (f)(1) inflating the non-shortening balloon and wrapping with a second balloon material pass at a high angle of between 54 and 90 degrees.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising step (f)(2) passing heat to bond said second balloon pass to the inflated balloon.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat and pressure are added and the balloon is inflated into a mold.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat and pressure are added and the balloon is inflated without a mold.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the second balloon material is cigarette wrapped.
8. The method of claim 3 wherein the second balloon material is helically wrapped.
9. A method of creating a non-shortening catheter balloon with increased burst pressures, comprising:
a) wrapping a wire core with a plurality of first balloon material layer at a low angle;
b) further wrapping with a plurality of first balloon material at a low angle in the opposite direction of a) relative to the longitudinal balloon axis;
c) exposing the plurality of first balloon material layers to heat to bond them together creating a preform;
d) removing the wire core;
e) placing the balloon preform in a mold and exposing the balloon preform to internal pressure;
f) inflating the balloon preform as it is continued to be exposed to said internal pressure creating a balloon;
g) removing the balloon from the mold;
h) wrapping the inflated balloon with second balloon material layers oriented at an angle between 54 and 90 degrees; and
i) bonding the first and second balloon material
wherein upon inflating the balloon preform, said balloon preform foreshortens less than 2 percent.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second balloon material is isotropic.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second balloon material is anisotropic.
12. The method of claim 9 where heat is used to bond said second balloon material to first balloon material.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first balloon material is an isotropic.