The unique requirements placed upon medical devices thus have a profound effect on both material selection and manufacturing processes. This article examines and describes the influence of extrusion and blow molding parameters on the manufacturing of PTCA balloons used to expand coronary vascular stenoses. Burst pressure of more than 15 bar to dilate hard and heavily calcified stenoses. Former investigations have shown that one cannot achieve all the desired balloon properties by optimizing the blow molding process. The Extrusion Process.
Extrusion is a continuous process used to manufacture plastic products such as tubing or profiles.
Granular raw materials are homogenized by a rotating screw that operates in a heated barrel. A gear pump is responsible for maintaining a consistent output volume of melted plastic. The outcoming tubing is pulled through a cooling bath by a puller to freeze the tubing dimensions. Behind the puller is a cutter that cuts the product to a defined length. Temperature of the cooling bath.