Method for making catheter balloons
First Claim
1. A method of forming perfusion balloons which comprises the steps of:
- providing a tubular mold having an internal mold wall and having a predetermined diameter corresponding to the diameter of balloon to be formed;
inserting a tube comprising a thermoplastic material into a helical channel forming member;
inserting said helical channel forming member with said tube inserted therein into said tubular mold;
heating at least said tube to the glass transition temperature of said thermoplastic material;
pressurizing said tube to expand said tube into contact with said helical member and said mold wall to form a balloon having a helical perfusion channel;
cooling said tube to approximately room temperature; and
removing said tube from said tubular mold and forming member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming perfusion balloons from thermoplastic materials. A helical member having a cross section corresponding to a desired perfusion channel cross section is placed in a tubular mold in contact with the mold wall. A thermoplastic tube is inserted into the helical member in the mold. The assembly is heated to the glass transition temperature of the tube and the tube is pressurized to expand into contact with the helical member and mold wall. After cooling, the formed balloon is removed from the mold. The helical member has a "T" shaped, or rectangular, or square, or triangular cross section. Limited pre-pressure and pre-stretch are preferably applied prior to the tube expansion and post forming tube conditioning may be used. Axial stretching of the tube in a mold, with our without the helical member, by microprocessor controlled air actuators provides highest quality balloons having selected wall thicknesses.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of forming perfusion balloons which comprises the steps of:
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providing a tubular mold having an internal mold wall and having a predetermined diameter corresponding to the diameter of balloon to be formed; inserting a tube comprising a thermoplastic material into a helical channel forming member; inserting said helical channel forming member with said tube inserted therein into said tubular mold; heating at least said tube to the glass transition temperature of said thermoplastic material; pressurizing said tube to expand said tube into contact with said helical member and said mold wall to form a balloon having a helical perfusion channel; cooling said tube to approximately room temperature; and removing said tube from said tubular mold and forming member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming perfusion balloons which comprises the steps of:
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providing a tubular mold having an internal mold wall and having a predetermined diameter corresponding to the diameter of balloon to be formed; inserting a tube comprising a thermoplastic material into a channel forming member and inserting said channel forming member into said tubular mold with said tube therein heating at least said tube to the glass transition temperature of said thermoplastic material; axially stretching said tube; pressurizing said tube to expand said tube into contact with said mold wall to form a balloon; cooling said tube to approximately room temperature; releasing axial stretch; and removing said tube from said tubular mold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification