Patent ID: 6977103

Claim:
A medical balloon which has a determined preinflation diameter and length, a longitudinal axis, and restricted longitudinal and radial characteristics, comprising: a polymer matrix material; and a plurality of fibers distributed in the polymer matrix material to provide reinforcement thereof; the fibers are distributed in a selected direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the balloon and composed of polymeric material which has a greater tensile strength than the polymer matrix material, the fiber polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyetheretherketone, polyphenylene sulfide, aromatic nylon, rigid polyurethane, polyester, copolyester, polyester blends, polyester/polyurethane blends and fluoropolymer, which is stronger than the polymer matrix material, and has a bulk elongation of 200% or less, which is less than the bulk elongation of the polymer matrix material, wherein the cores of the fibers are formed by phase separation from the melt upon extrusion of a melt blend of the fiber polymeric material and the polymer matrix material, and the fibers operatively adhere to the polymer matrix material.