Patent ID: 8192675

Claim:
A method of forming a balloon, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blow mold parison comprising: a substantially cylindrical body portion, the body portion comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the body portion further comprising an aperture extending along a central axis of the body portion; an extension element projecting away from the outer wall of the body portion, the extension element being integrally molded to the body portion, the extension element comprising a first height and a first effective width; and a structural feature projecting from the outer wall of the body portion, the structural feature being integrally molded to the extension element, the structural feature comprising a second effective width greater than the first effective width of the extension element; (b) inserting the blow parison into a forming mold; (c) applying a predetermined amount of heat and pressure to the parison; (d) stretching the parison in a longitudinal direction; and (e) expanding the parison in a radial direction, wherein the extension element undergoes stress-induced plastic deformation developed during the radial expansion to maintain structural integrity of the structural feature.