Mold for forming a medical balloon
First Claim
1. A mold for forming an inflatable medical balloon having a mold body defining at least one internal mold cavity, said internal mold cavity comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis passing through said internal mold cavity;
a generally cylindrical inner molding surface;
first and second generally cylindrical outer molding surfaces located respectively at said proximal end and said distal end of said internal mold cavity; and
first and second taper regions located, respectively, proximally and distally of said inner molding surface, each taper region having a first generally conical taper molding surf-ace oriented at a first angle connecting the outer molding surface and a second generally conical taper molding surface, and the second taper molding surface oriented at a second angle connecting the first taper molding surface and the inner molding surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mold for forming medical balloons and the balloons formed therefrom are disclosed. The mold has a generally cylindrical inner molding surface for forming a working length of the balloon, and generally cylindrical outer molding surfaces at either end of the mold for forming shafts of the balloon. Joining these outer and inner molding surfaces are taper molding regions composed of two generally conical molding surfaces oriented at two different angles from a longitudinal axis of the mold. A balloon resulting from a manufacturing process using a mold according to the present invention reflects the geometry of the mold and has a unique concave taper profile and a well-defined working length.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A mold for forming an inflatable medical balloon having a mold body defining at least one internal mold cavity, said internal mold cavity comprising:
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a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis passing through said internal mold cavity;
a generally cylindrical inner molding surface;
first and second generally cylindrical outer molding surfaces located respectively at said proximal end and said distal end of said internal mold cavity; and
first and second taper regions located, respectively, proximally and distally of said inner molding surface, each taper region having a first generally conical taper molding surf-ace oriented at a first angle connecting the outer molding surface and a second generally conical taper molding surface, and the second taper molding surface oriented at a second angle connecting the first taper molding surface and the inner molding surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inflatable medical balloon with a shape discernable at low inflation pressures comprising:
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a proximal and distal end along a longitudinal axis passing through the balloon;
a generally cylindrical working length;
first and second generally cylindrical shaft portions at the proximal and distal ends of the balloon, respectively; and
first and second generally concave, conical taper regions connecting the working length to the first and second shaft portions, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification