Patent ID: 8002744
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: A61M,B29C,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
1. A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon that may be inflated and deflated, and when inflated exhibits minimal change in radial distension across a predetermined range of internal pressures, the balloon having a generally cylindrical barrel wall disposed between tapered cone walls and cylindrical neck walls extending therefrom along a longitudinal axis, the balloon comprising: a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-welded polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls; the fibers of the first fiber layer running substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the balloon, the fibers of the first fiber layer having a pattern of different lengths and being divisible into a first group and a second group based on length; each fiber of the first group beginning in at least the cone wall at one end of the balloon, extending continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminating in at least the cone wall at the opposite end of the balloon; wherein substantially all of the fibers of the first group have a generally uniform length; each fiber of the second group beginning in the cone wall at one end of the balloon, extending continuously in the longitudinal direction and terminating in the cone wall at the opposite end of the balloon; wherein 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; and the fiber of the second fiber layer winding circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the length of the balloon including at least the cone walls and the barrel wall.