Patent ID: 9056190
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: A61L,A61M,B29C,B29D,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
1. A method of making a balloon catheter comprising: a) melt-extruding a thermoplastic polymeric material having a Shore durometer hardness of less than about 75 D at an elevated temperature into a tube having a first outer diameter, a first inner diameter, and a tube lumen defined therein, and cooling the extruded tube to a temperature less than the elevated temperature of the melt-extrusion; b) placing the extruded tube within a capture member and biaxially orienting the polymeric material of the extruded tube while simultaneously tapering at least a section of the extruded tube by radially expanding the extruded tube with pressurized media in the tube lumen and axially expanding the extruded tube with an external load applied on at least one end of the tube as an external heat supply traverses longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the extruded tube in the capture member, wherein an overall axial load on the tube is varied as at least a section of the tube is heated, wherein varying the overall axial load comprises varying at least one of (i) the external load applied to the end of the tube or (ii) the pressure of the pressurized media in the tube lumen, as the external heat supply traverses along the tube; c) cooling the expanded tube to room temperature to form a tapered biaxially oriented nonporous thermoplastic polymer tubular member with an inflation lumen defined therein; and d) sealingly securing a balloon proximate a distal end of the tubular member with an interior of the balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen.