Non-compliant medical balloon having braided or knitted reinforcement

1. A non-compliant medical balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state, the balloon comprising:

a base balloon having a substantially folded outer surface including at least three longitudinal folds when in the deflated state and an unfolded outer surface including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween when in the inflated state;

a braided fabric sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the base balloon, the portion having at least two different diameters, wherein the sleeve is formed of a single layer of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another; and

wherein the sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon such that there is substantially no change in the angles formed between the fibers in the braided fabric sleeve when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

2. A non-compliant medical balloon in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the base balloon is formed of a blow-molded thin film polymeric material.

3. A non-compliant medical balloon in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the braided fabric sleeve is formed as a separate freestanding article that is subsequently pulled over the base balloon.

4. A non-compliant medical balloon in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the braided fabric sleeve is formed in-situ over the base balloon.

5. A non-compliant medical balloon comprising:

a base balloon including a generally cylindrical center section having first and second generally conical end portions extending from the center portion and with shoulders at the junctures of the conical end portions and the cylindrical center section and having first and second reduced diameter necks extending from the apex of each of the conical end portions;

a fabric sleeve disposed over the base balloon, the fabric sleeve formed from a single layer of mechanically interlocked, substantially inelastic fibers forming angles therebetween, the sleeve extending continuously over the first conical end portion, the generally cylindrical center portion and the second conical end portion and wherein the fibers are mechanically interconnected at spaced apart junctions where a fiber passes over an interconnecting fiber;

wherein the length and circumference of the balloon do not undergo a substantial change following inflation of the balloon from the folded state to the inflated state configuration; and

wherein there is substantially no change in the angles formed between the fibers in the fabric sleeve when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

6. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the fabric sleeve is braided from at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined so that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another.

7. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the fabric sleeve comprises a seamless tube extending continuously over the base balloon from the first neck to the second neck.

8. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 7 wherein each fiber is secured along substantially the entire length of the fiber to the base balloon.

9. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 8 wherein the non-compliant medical balloon further comprises a an outer layer wherein the fabric sleeve is positioned between the base balloon and the outer layer and wherein the outer layer is secured to the base balloon with an adhesive such that the position of the fibers relative to the surface of base balloon does not substantially change when the balloon is inflated.

10. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 8 wherein the non-compliant medical balloon further comprises an outer layer wherein the fabric sleeve is positioned between the base balloon and the outer layer and wherein the outer layer is fused to the base balloon such that the position of the fibers relative to the surface of base balloon does not substantially change when the balloon is inflated.

11. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the wherein the fabric sleeve is one of formed as a separate freestanding article that is subsequently pulled over the base balloon and formed in-situ over the base balloon.

12. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the wherein the fabric sleeve is formed from substantially inelastic ribbon-shaped fibers each having a width greater than thickness.

13. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the wherein the fabric sleeve is formed from substantially inelastic fibers that extend in a substantially longitudinal direction between the necks while changing directions at spaced apart intervals with substantially no fibers extending completely around the circumference of the base balloon.

14. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein the wherein the fabric sleeve is formed from substantially inelastic fibers that extend in a substantially circumferential direction around the base balloon while changing directions at spaced apart intervals with substantially no fibers extending continuously between the necks in a longitudinal direction.

15. The non-compliant medical balloon of claim 5 wherein at least some of the mechanically interlocked, substantially inelastic fibers extend over shoulders at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical center portion and at an angle relative to a circle defined by the shoulders wherein transverse and longitudinal components of forces applied to the base balloon are transmitted across the shoulders.