Patent ID: 8211354

Claim:
A method of forming a balloon for a balloon catheter, comprising: extruding a parison having a uniform shape along an entire length thereof, said parison comprising a central opening and first and second longitudinal extensions extending from an exterior surface of said parison and opposing each other, said first and second longitudinal extensions defining first and second longitudinal cavities and a longitudinal opening, wherein said first longitudinal cavity is larger in width than said second longitudinal cavity and is disposed nearer a longitudinal axis of said balloon than said second longitudinal cavity, said second longitudinal cavity extending from said first longitudinal cavity to said longitudinal opening; disposing an anchor portion of a dilation element into said first longitudinal cavity, an intermediate portion of said dilation element being disposed within said second longitudinal cavity and a dilation portion of said dilation element extending outward from said longitudinal opening; and heating said parison inside a mold and pressurizing said central opening, said parison thereby expanding against said mold, wherein said mold comprises a clearance cavity receiving said dilation portion.