Patent ID: 8715229

Claim:
A non-compliant medical balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state, the balloon comprising: a base balloon having a substantially folded outer surface including at least three longitudinal folds when in the deflated state and an unfolded outer surface including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween when in the inflated state; a braided fabric sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the base balloon, the portion having at least two different diameters, wherein the sleeve is formed of a single layer of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another; and wherein the sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon such that there is substantially no change in the angles formed between the fibers in the braided fabric sleeve when the base balloon is internally pressurized.