Patent ID: 7780629

Claim:
A non-compliant medical balloon comprising: a base balloon formed from a substantially inelastic polymer, the base balloon having a generally cylindrical barrel with a substantially fixed first circumference, first and second cylindrical end portions each having a proximate and distal end and a substantially fixed second circumference smaller than the first circumference and first and second transition portions each having a proximate end and a distal end, each transition portion extending from an end of the barrel to a proximate end of one of the cylindrical end portions, the circumference of the transition sections decreasing from the cylindrical barrel to cylindrical end portions; a non-woven layer of substantially inelastic first fibers positioned on the base balloon, the first fibers comprising randomly oriented fibers defining random intersection angles at a plurality of locations where the first fibers intersect and cross over each other, the non-woven layer extending over the cylindrical barrel and transition portions of the balloon; an adhesive for attaching the non-woven layer of first fibers to at least the cylindrical barrel and the transition sections; an outer polymeric coating; wherein the balloon in an undeployed, deflated configuration has a folded configuration including at least three longitudinal folds extending continuously between the first and second end portions of the generally cylindrical barrel portion, whereby the folds decrease the circumference of the balloon in a deflated state to facilitate insertion of the balloon while retaining the generally cylindrical configuration of the barrel portion; and wherein the length and circumference of the balloon do not undergo a substantial change following inflation of the balloon from the folded state to the inflated state configuration.