Patent ID: 8454646

Claim:
A method for treating a living being for bone, tissue and/or duct dilatation comprising the sequential steps of: inserting an inflatable balloon element in an uninflated state into an interior region, cavity or passage of a damaged, collapsed or deformed bone, tissue or duct through a first of one or more narrow diameter openings or passageways to position the balloon element at a body location requiring dilatation; inflating the balloon element with a working fluid to a working pressure and/or volume and for a time period sufficient to dilate the interior region, cavity or passage; deflating the balloon element by withdrawing the working fluid; during and/or subsequent to said deflating step, stretching and/or folding, pleating or wrapping the balloon element to reduce its profile using a rod that is not attached to the balloon element to apply axial force, and/or using a rod that is not attached to the balloon element but is capable of engaging the balloon element to apply rotational force, manually or automatically to the balloon element; and, withdrawing the previously-inflated balloon element through one of said narrow diameter openings or passageways, which may be the same as or different than said first narrow diameter opening or passageway.