MEDICAL BALLOON WITH REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE

1 . A balloon arrangement, comprising:

a balloon comprising a base layer formed of polymer material; and

a reinforcement structure independent from the balloon, the reinforcement structure comprising a monofilament and/or a multifilament material, and adapted to come into contact with the balloon layer during pressurization,

wherein the reinforcement structure is a braided cage.

2 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the medical balloon structure is about 12 to about 16 mm.

3 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the medical balloon structure is about 60 to about 120 mm.

4 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a an outer shaft, wherein the outer shaft is disposed through a central portion of the balloon and braided cage, and extends along a longitudinal direction of the balloon and braided cage.

5 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the braided cage comprises at least one of Kevlar, Vectran and UHMWPE.

6 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the braided cage is composed of radiopaque material.

7 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the balloon is non-compliant.

8 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the balloon is semi-compliant.

9 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the braided cage is comprised of expandable material.

10 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein a ratio of a collapsed diameter of the medical balloon structure to an expanded diameter of the medical balloon structure is about 4:1.

11 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein, during expansion, the diameter of the braided cage increases commensurately with an expanding diameter of the balloon.

12 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of connector portions, at least one connector portion being disposed at a longitudinal end of the braided cage.

13 . The balloon arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein the connector portion is configured to couple the at least one of the longitudinal ends of the balloon to the respective longitudinal ends of the braided cage.

14 . A method for treating tissue, comprising:

inserting a balloon arrangement into a subject having the tissue;

wherein the balloon arrangement comprises a balloon having a base layer formed of polymer material and a braided cage independent from the balloon layer, the braided cage comprising a monofilament and/or a multifilament material, and adapted to come into contact with the balloon layer during pressurization,

pressurizing the balloon structure so as to expand a diameter of the balloon layer and/or the braided cage;

removing and/or moving the tissue; and

retracting the balloon structure.

15 . The method for treating tissue according to claim 14 , wherein, during the pressurization, the diameter of the braided cage increases commensurately with the diameter of the balloon layer.

16 . The method for treating tissue according to claim 14 , further comprising:

introducing a stent into the subject.

17 . The method for treating tissue according to claim 16 , wherein the introduction of the stent occurs after the retracting of the balloon arrangement.

18 . The method for treating tissue according to claim 14 , wherein, after the stent is introduced into the subject, a post-dilatation procedure utilizing the balloon arrangement is performed so as to reach an appropriate expansion amount of the stent.

19 . A reinforcement structure for a medical balloon, the reinforcement structure comprising:

a cage or sleeve;

an outer shaft configured to couple to the cage or sleeve; and

a hub coupled to the outer shaft.