Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a thickened wall portion extending along at least a portion of the working length section of the balloon in a noninflated configuration. The balloon has a first layer formed of a first polymeric material and a second layer formed of a second, different polymeric material, the second layer having a wall thickness which is greater along the central working length section than the wall thickness of the second layer along a section proximal and/or a section distal to the central working length of the balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, the first layer is formed of a porous material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the second layer of the balloon is formed of an elastomeric polymer. The balloon catheter has a highly flexible distal section and a relatively high strength, low profile balloon, due to the balloon configuration of the invention.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a thickened wall portion extending along at least a portion of the working length section of the balloon in a noninflated configuration. The balloon has a first layer formed of a first polymeric material and a second layer formed of a second, different polymeric material, the second layer having a wall thickness which is greater along the central working length section than the wall thickness of the second layer along a section proximal and/or a section distal to the central working length of the balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, the first layer is formed of a porous material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the second layer of the balloon is formed of an elastomeric polymer. The balloon catheter has a highly flexible distal section and a relatively high strength, low profile balloon, due to the balloon configuration of the invention.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other tubular medical device or component, in which a sheet of polymeric material is wrapped on a mandrel and heated to fuse sections of the wrapped sheet together to form a tube. The mandrel has a metallic core and a jacket on an outer surface of the metallic core, and the wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated without corroding the metallic core of the mandrel. In a presently preferred embodiment, the sheet is formed of a fluoropolymeric material, and the resulting fluoropolymeric tube forms at least a layer of a catheter balloon.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component thereof formed of a compacted porous polymeric material, in which a tube of porous polymeric material is axially compacted, preferably without increasing the outer diameter of the tube, by positioning heat shrink material on the porous polymeric tube and heating the heat shrink material to decrease the length and diameter of the heat shrink material.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a thickened wall portion extending along at least a portion of the working length section of the balloon in a noninflated configuration. The balloon has a first layer formed of a first polymeric material and a second layer formed of a second, different polymeric material, the second layer having a wall thickness which is greater along the central working length section than the wall thickness of the second layer along a section proximal and/or a section distal to the central working length of the balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, the first layer is formed of a porous material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the second layer of the balloon is formed of an elastomeric polymer. The balloon catheter has a highly flexible distal section and a relatively high strength, low profile balloon, due to the balloon configuration of the invention.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other tubular medical device or component, in which a sheet of polymeric material is wrapped on a mandrel and heated to fuse sections of the wrapped sheet together to form a tube. The mandrel has a metallic core and a jacket on an outer surface of the metallic core, and the wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated without corroding the metallic core of the mandrel. In a presently preferred embodiment, the sheet is formed of a fluoropolymeric material, and the resulting fluoropolymeric tube forms at least a layer of a catheter balloon.