Methods of fabricating a transcatheter device having an inflatable balloon
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating a transcatheter device having an inflatable balloon, the method comprising:
- obtaining a polymer tube defined by a wall along a longitudinal axis having an inner surface and an outer surface, the polymer comprising a network of polymer chains with a homogenous network morphology;
blow molding the polymer tube into a hollow balloon shape having a central body region, a pair of leg regions on opposite ends of the balloon shape that are radially smaller than the central body region and define axial openings therethrough, and a pair of cone regions extending between the body region and the leg regions;
applying low heat laser pulses to an outer surface of the cone regions to form a laser-formed modification, the pulses being less than 1000 picoseconds in duration to ablate material from the outer surface, the low heat laser pulses being configured so as to leave the polymer network morphology surrounding the laser-formed modification substantially unchanged;
folding the balloon; and
crimping a heart valve around the body region of the folded balloon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating a transcatheter device having an inflatable balloon, the method comprising:
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obtaining a polymer tube defined by a wall along a longitudinal axis having an inner surface and an outer surface, the polymer comprising a network of polymer chains with a homogenous network morphology; blow molding the polymer tube into a hollow balloon shape having a central body region, a pair of leg regions on opposite ends of the balloon shape that are radially smaller than the central body region and define axial openings therethrough, and a pair of cone regions extending between the body region and the leg regions; applying low heat laser pulses to an outer surface of the cone regions to form a laser-formed modification, the pulses being less than 1000 picoseconds in duration to ablate material from the outer surface, the low heat laser pulses being configured so as to leave the polymer network morphology surrounding the laser-formed modification substantially unchanged; folding the balloon; and crimping a heart valve around the body region of the folded balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of fabricating a transcatheter device having an inflatable balloon, the method comprising:
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obtaining a polymer tube defined by a wall along a longitudinal axis having an inner surface and an outer surface, the polymer comprising a network of polymer chains with a homogenous network morphology; blow molding the polymer tube into a hollow balloon shape having a central body region, a pair of leg regions on opposite ends of the balloon shape that are radially smaller than the central body region and define axial openings therethrough, and a pair of cone regions extending between the body region and the leg regions; applying low heat laser pulses to the leg regions to form a laser-formed modification, the pulses being less than 1000 picoseconds in duration to ablate material from the leg regions, the low heat laser pulses being configured so as to leave the polymer network morphology surrounding the laser-formed modification substantially unchanged; folding the balloon; and crimping a heart valve around the body region of the folded balloon. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification