Medtronic, Inc.

University of Minnesota

Medtronic Vascular, Inc.

Medtronic Ave, Inc.

Ashish Varma

Niall F Duffy

Declan P Costello

Frank Steven Bates

Robert H Murray

Marc Andrew Hillmyer

Kimberly A Chaffin

Lisa M Lim

Noel Coyle

Gerry Clarke

Patrick Duane

David Quinn

Frank Clarke

John MacNamara

Patrick J Carmody

A process for producing a dilatation balloon by extruding a multiblock copolymer composition to form an extrudate comprising phase-separated glassy, rubber, and semicrystalline microdomains that are macroscopically ordered in a perpendicular alignment. The balloon formed by the process demonstrates, during inflation, a true stress vs. nominal strain response curve comprising a first zone representative of a low modulus balloon, a second zone representative of a high strength balloon, and a sharp transition from the first zone to the second zone.

Process for producing a hyper-elastic, high strength dilatation balloon made from multi-block copolymers

A sterilization process that preserves the mechanical properties of dilatation balloons and balloon catheters manufactured from polymers susceptible to the degradation reactions induced by ionizing radiation. The advantages of the sterilization process contemplated by this invention results from a reduced oxygen environment during sterilization, thereby preventing the degeneration process initiated in polymers during irradiation. Additionally, a balloon or balloon dilatation catheter sterilized by the process of the invention is provided.

Method of sterilizing balloon with ionizing radiation

A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter having a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along the length of a stiffened proximal shaft portion, and a guide member slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. The guide member may be slid along the proximal shaft portion and the guide wire in zipper-like fashion so that the guide wire is contained within the guide wire lumen distal to the guide member and with the guide wire and catheter being separated proximal of the guide member.

Catheter and guide wire exchange system

Growing community of inventors

Galway, Ireland

Ashish Varma