Method of compressing a polymeric layer of an expandable medical device
First Claim
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1. A method of making a polymeric tubular layer of an expandable medical device or component, comprising:
- a) placing a polymeric tubular layer having a length in a lumen of a tube, with the polymeric tubular layer in the lumen of the tube being disposed on a mandrel, and the tube and polymeric tubular layer being in a housing;
b) longitudinally stretching the tube to a stretched configuration and restraining the tube in the stretched configuration;
c) attaching the tube in the stretched configuration to the polymeric tubular layer by exposing the tube with the polymeric tubular member therein to a pressurized fluid introduced into the housing, to thereby apply a radially inward force to the tube;
d) unrestraining the tube to release the tube from the stretched configuration so that the length of the tube decreases and thereby longitudinally compresses the polymeric tubular layer;
e) detaching the tube from the compressed polymeric tubular layer; and
f) removing the compressed polymeric tubular layer from the lumen of the tube and from the mandrel, to form the polymeric tubular layer of the expandable medical device.
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Abstract
A method of making a polymeric tubular layer of an expandable medical device or component, in which the polymeric tubular layer is longitudinally compressed by longitudinally stretching a tube over the polymeric tubular layer and releasing the tube from the stretched configuration so that the length of the tube decreases and thereby decreases the length of the polymeric tubular layer. The resulting compressed polymeric tubular layer can be used in a variety of expandable medical devices and in one presently preferred embodiment it forms a catheter balloon having at least one layer.
44 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of making a polymeric tubular layer of an expandable medical device or component, comprising:
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a) placing a polymeric tubular layer having a length in a lumen of a tube, with the polymeric tubular layer in the lumen of the tube being disposed on a mandrel, and the tube and polymeric tubular layer being in a housing; b) longitudinally stretching the tube to a stretched configuration and restraining the tube in the stretched configuration; c) attaching the tube in the stretched configuration to the polymeric tubular layer by exposing the tube with the polymeric tubular member therein to a pressurized fluid introduced into the housing, to thereby apply a radially inward force to the tube; d) unrestraining the tube to release the tube from the stretched configuration so that the length of the tube decreases and thereby longitudinally compresses the polymeric tubular layer; e) detaching the tube from the compressed polymeric tubular layer; and f) removing the compressed polymeric tubular layer from the lumen of the tube and from the mandrel, to form the polymeric tubular layer of the expandable medical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of making a catheter having a balloon with at least one polymeric tubular layer, comprising:
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a) placing a polymeric tubular layer having a length in a lumen of a tube, with the polymeric tubular layer in the lumen of the tube being disposed on a mandrel, and the tube and polymeric tubular layer being in a housing; b) longitudinally stretching the tube to a stretched configuration and restraining the tube in the stretched configuration; c) attaching the tube in the stretched configuration to the polymeric tubular layer by exposing the tube with the polymeric tubular member therein to a pressurized fluid introduced into the housing, to thereby apply a radially inward force to the tube; d) unrestraining the tube to release the tube from the stretched configuration so that the length of the tube decreases and thereby decreases the length of the polymeric tubular layer by longitudinally compressing the polymeric tubular layer; f) detaching the tube from the compressed polymeric tubular layer; g) removing the compressed polymeric tubular layer from the lumen of the tube and from the mandrel, to form the at least one polymeric tubular layer of the catheter balloon; and h) securing the catheter balloon polymeric tubular layer to a catheter shaft, to form the balloon catheter. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of making a polymeric tubular layer of an expandable medical device or component, comprising:
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a) placing a polymeric tubular layer having a length in a lumen of a tube, with the polymeric tubular layer in the lumen of the tube being disposed on a mandrel, and the tube comprises an outer layer of a first polymer, and an inner layer extending at least along the length of the polymeric tubular layer and formed of a second polymer having a higher coefficient of friction than the outer layer first polymer; b) longitudinally stretching the tube to a stretched configuration and restraining the tube in the stretched configuration; c) attaching the tube in the stretched configuration to the polymeric tubular layer; d) unrestraining the tube to release the tube from the stretched configuration so that the length of the tube decreases and thereby longitudinally compresses the polymeric tubular layer; e) detaching the tube from the compressed polymeric tubular layer; and f) removing the compressed polymeric tubular layer from the lumen of the tube and from the mandrel, to form the polymeric tubular layer of the expandable medical device.
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Specification