Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.

Biomerics Fmi, LLC

Charles J Cox

Lanny R Pepper

William F Davies, Jr

A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon.

Non-compliant medical balloon

A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.

A medical balloon comprises a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first, and a generally cylindrical balloon wall extending therebetween to define an inflation chamber. The balloon wall is adapted for inflation from a first folded configuration having a first plurality of pleats to an expanded, unpleated configuration, and deflation therefrom to a second folded configuration having a second plurality of pleats. The balloon wall includes a first layer formed of a polymer and having a substantially constant radial thickness. A second layer is firmly attached to the first layer and has a plurality of first regions of greater radial thickness interleaved with a plurality of second regions of reduced radial thickness. During deflation from the expanded, unpleated configuration to the second folded configuration, the balloon wall folds along the regions of reduced radial thickness of the second layer to form the second plurality of pleats.

Medical balloon with enhanced refolding properties

A catheter includes a balloon and a shaft having a coaxial portion including an outer tubular member having a bore, a transition neck, an access fitting adjacent the proximate end of the catheter shaft for directing a guidewire into the catheter shaft, an inflation port, a guidewire tubular member disposed coaxially in the outer tubular member, the outer tubular member and guidewire tubular member defining a first, annular inflation/deflation lumen fluid communication with the inflation port, at least one second inflation/deflation lumen separate from and non-coaxial with the guidewire tubular member and having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the first inflation/deflation lumen and opening at a proximate end into the first inflation/deflation lumen and at the distal end of the transition neck.

Method of making a balloon dilation catheter shaft having end transition

A balloon dilation catheter includes a dilation balloon and a shaft having a coaxial portion including an outer tubular member having a bore, a proximate end and a distal end and a transition neck formed at the distal end of the coaxial portion, the transition neck having a proximate end at the distal end of the outer tubular member and a distal end, an access fitting adjacent the proximate end of the catheter shaft for directing a guidewire into the catheter shaft, an inflation port for directing an incompressible inflation medium into the catheter shaft, a guidewire tubular member disposed coaxially in the outer tubular member and extending continuously through the outer tubular member to the distal end of the outer tubular member and through the transition neck, the outer tubular member and guidewire tubular member defining a first, annular inflation/deflation lumen therebetween in fluid communication with the inflation port, at least one second inflation/deflation lumen formed through the transition neck, the second inflation/deflation lumen separate from and non-coaxial with the guidewire tubular member and having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the first inflation/deflation lumen and opening at a proximate end into the first inflation/deflation lumen and at the distal end of the transition neck whereby the second inflation/deflation lumen provides fluid communication from the first inflation/deflation lumen through the transition neck such that inflation fluid passing through the first inflation lumen may flow though the second inflation/deflation lumen and directly into the dilation balloon.

Balloon dilation catheter shaft having end transition

A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. Each fiber of the first group begins in the neck wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the neck wall at the opposite end of the balloon. Substantially all of the fibers of the first group have a generally uniform length. Each fiber of the second group begins in the cone wall at one end of the balloon, extends continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminates in the cone wall at the opposite end of the balloon. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon including the neck walls, the cone walls and the barrel wall.

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Eustace, TX, United States of America

Charles J Cox