Patent ID: 8685054

Claim:
A balloon catheter assembly including an inflatable balloon provided with a body portion having a radius, first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second ends; the balloon being formed of balloon material; and at least one circumferentially extending inflatable rib element at or proximate one of the first and second ends, wherein the inflatable rib element is not a solid element and has a wall thickness substantially the same as that of the balloon, the inflatable rib element being formed of balloon material and being inflatable with the balloon; the inflatable rib element, when inflated, including a retaining shoulder facing the body portion of the balloon and a wall portion facing a direction opposite the body portion; wherein said retaining shoulder has an interior angle to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the interior angle of the wall portion to the longitudinal axis of the balloon; the inflatable rib element being discontinuous around the circumference of the balloon and being formed of a plurality of circumferentially aligned inflatable rib portions spaced circumferentially from one another by a tether element; the tether element extending to the retaining shoulder and having a radial dimension or height not less than the radius of the body portion; and the inflatable rib element having a radial dimension or height which is greater than the radius of the body portion when the balloon is fully inflated to a maximum diameter; and the inflatable rib element having a radial dimension or height which is greater than the radius of the body portion when the balloon is fully inflated to a maximum diameter.