Patent ID: 6059751
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61L,A61M,B29C,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for forming a dilatation catheter balloon suitable for use in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty comprising:forming a tube comprising a first, inner layer comprising at least 80% by weight of a biaxially orientable thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, and blends thereof, and up to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, poly-ether ester block copolymers, and modified olefin copolymers, said first layer having an inside surface and an outside surface and a thickness of 5-56 micrometers; a second layer of a thermoplastic ionomeric olefin copolymer, said second layer having an inside surface and an outside surface and a thickness of 0.5-5 micrometers, with the inside surface thereof secured to the outside surface of said first, inner layer; and optionally a third layer comprising at least 80% by weight of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, and blends thereof, and up to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, poly-ether ester block copolymers, and modified olefin copolymers, said third layer having an inside surface and an outside surface and a thickness of 1-5 micrometers, with the inside surface thereof secured to the outside surface of said second layer;fusing said layers concurrently or consecutively therewith;quenching the tube so formed;biaxially orienting the tube to produce a catheter balloon; andheat setting the biaxially oriented catheter balloon.