Patent ID: 6156254
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a balloon member for a balloon catheter, which method comprises:a) forming a generally tubular member having first and second terminal portions and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness and formed from a flexible substantially fluid impervious material having reinforcing fibres provided integrally with the impervious material which fibres define a maximum radial expansion of the balloon member, the tubular member having an external diameter which corresponds substantially to that desired for the balloon member in the maximum radial expansion state;b) stretching the tubular member axially until an inner diameter of the tubular member is reduced to or proximate to an external diameter of a catheter tube upon which it is desired to mount the balloon member;c) setting at least one of the terminal portions of the stretched tubular member in the reduced inner diameter produced by the axial stretching step; andd) relieving axial stretching, produced by the axial stretching step, of the tubular member to allow a portion of the tubular member intermediate the terminal portions to expand radially to provide a wider diameter intermediate portion in the balloon member.