Abstract: A medical device consists of a stent having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; a single expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) layer contacting the first surface of the stent; and an elastomeric layer applied to at least one surface of the stent. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is silicone. In at least one embodiment, the medical device is manufactured by positioning the ePTFE layer such that a first surface of the ePTFE layer contacts a first surface of the stent to form a stent-ePTFE assembly; and applying an elastomeric solution to the first surface of the ePTFE layer and at least one surface of the stent.

Abstract: A medical device consists of a stent having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; a single expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) layer contacting the first surface of the stent; and an elastomeric layer applied to at least one surface of the stent. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is silicone. In at least one embodiment, the medical device is manufactured by positioning the ePTFE layer such that a first surface of the ePTFE layer contacts a first surface of the stent to form a stent-ePTFE assembly; and applying an elastomeric solution to the first surface of the ePTFE layer and at least one surface of the stent.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a medical device may include a dilation device. The dilation device may include an expandable member configured to extend at least partially into an opening in tissue. The expandable member may also be configured to expand the opening when the expandable member moves from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. The dilation device may also include one or more markings on the expandable member. The one or more markings may be configured to provide a visual indication of a characteristic of the opening in the tissue when the expandable member extends at least partially into the opening. The medical device may also include a feeding device configured to extend at least partially into the opening in the tissue. At least a portion of the dilation device may be configured to be received within the feeding device.

Abstract: A medical device consists of a stent having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; a single expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) layer contacting the first surface of the stent; and an elastomeric layer applied to at least one surface of the stent. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is silicone. In at least one embodiment, the medical device is manufactured by positioning the ePTFE layer such that a first surface of the ePTFE layer contacts a first surface of the stent to form a stent-ePTFE assembly; and applying an elastomeric solution to the first surface of the ePTFE layer and at least one surface of the stent.

Abstract: A mold for a medical device balloon has a cavity adapted to receive a hollow parison expandable therein to form the balloon. The cavity has a cone region and a body region. The cone region is heated to a higher temperature, or the mold wall is formed to deliver applied heat more efficiently to the cone region, relative to the body region of the mold.

Abstract: A medical balloon is constructed with protrusions thereon to prevent unwanted movement of an expandable, implantable medical device such as a stent during delivery and deployment. At least some of the protrusions are underlying the expandable, implantable medical device to grip the expandable, implantable medical device.

Abstract: Balloons for use on medical devices such as catheter balloons are formed from polymer blend products which include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer, especially thermoplastic polyesters such as PET, and a compatabilizer. The compatabilizer may be an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, an ethylene-methyl-methacrylic acid terpolymer, an acrylic rubber, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer or a mixture of two or more such polymers.

Abstract: A medical balloon is constructed with protrusions thereon to prevent unwanted movement of an expandable, implantable medical device such as a stent during delivery and deployment. At least some of the protrusions are underlying the expandable, implantable medical device to grip the expandable, implantable medical device.

Abstract: A medical balloon is constructed with protrusions thereon to prevent unwanted movement of an expandable, implantable medical device such as a stent during delivery and deployment. At least some of the protrusions are underlying the expandable, implantable medical device to grip the expandable, implantable medical device.

Abstract: Balloons for use on medical devices such as catheter balloons are formed from polymer blend products which include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer, especially thermoplastic polyesters such as PET, and a compatabilizer. The compatabilizer may be an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, an ethylene-methyl-methacrylic acid terpolymer, an acrylic rubber, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer or a mixture of two or more such polymers.

Abstract: A medical balloon is constructed with protrusions thereon to prevent unwanted movement of an expandable, implantable medical device such as a stent during delivery and deployment. At least some of the protrusions are underlying the expandable, implantable medical device to grip the expandable, implantable medical device.

Abstract: Balloons for use on medical devices such as catheter balloons are formed from polymer blend products which include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer, especially thermoplastic polyesters such as PET, and a compatabilizer. The compatabilizer may be an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, an ethylene-methyl-methacrylic acid terpolymer, an acrylic rubber, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer or a mixture of two or more such polymers.

Abstract: A medical balloon is constructed with protrusions thereon to prevent unwanted movement of an expandable, implantable medical device such as a stent during delivery and deployment. At least some of the protrusions are underlying the expandable, implantable medical device to grip the expandable, implantable medical device.

Abstract: Balloons for use on medical devices such as catheter balloons are formed from polymer blend products which include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer, especially thermoplastic polyesters such as PET, and a compatabilizer. The compatabilizer may be an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, an ethylene-methyl-methacrylic acid terpolymer, an acrylic rubber, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer or a mixture of two or more such polymers.

Abstract: Dilating an obstructed region in a narrow, highly torturous lumen with a dilatation catheter having near its distal end an inflatable balloon with a dilatation section, a proximal taper section, and distal taper section. The dilatation section is generally cylindrical in shape when the balloon is inflated. The distal taper section has a relatively abrupt slope, and the proximal taper section has a relatively gradual slope.

Abstract: A balloon and method of manufacture for use in catheters for medical procedures, in particular percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty and other cardiovascular interventions. The balloon incorporates an inflatable membrane having a number of perpendicular ribs which have a higher resistance to collapse during deflation. A number of longitudinal ribs are provided which are preferably equidistantly spaced about a longitudinal axis and which extend between a proximal and distal end of the balloon. A number of triangular indentations are provided, wherein each triangular indentation is preferably equidistantly positioned between adjacent longitudinal ribs and each triangular indentation extends along a portion of the balloon between the proximal and distal ends. Each triangular indentation may extend through a perpendicular rib to reduce the resistance of the perpendicular rib to collapse during deflation.

Abstract: An inflatable medical balloon (40) at its distal end for introduction into a body part especially through an endoscope (46) and method of making the balloon. When fully inflated, the balloon (40) is a continuous body of balloon material (which may be formed of one or more polymeric layers) with a generally cylindrical shape and four ribs (44) formed in the body. The ribs (44) are longitudinally and equidistantly arranged around an axis (A) which extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the balloon (40). The ribs (44) are formed of stressed balloon material.

Abstract: An inflatable medical balloon (40) at its distal end for introduction into a body part especially through an endoscope (46) and method of making the balloon. When fully inflated, the balloon (40) is a continuous body of balloon material (which may be formed of one or more polymeric layers) with a generally cylindrical shape and four ribs (44) formed in the body. The ribs (44) are longitudinally and equidistantly arranged around an axis (A) which extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the balloon (40). The ribs (44) are formed of stressed balloon material.

Abstract: An inflatable medical balloon is formed by fabricating a tubular preform having a tapered region at the end of the portion where the main body of the balloon will form to enable the corresponding transition section of the blown balloon to have a separately controllable thickness profile. The preferred method includes providing a tube of a selected resin of wall thickness and diameter suitable for being formed into a balloon, and selectively heating to drawing temperature a defined region of the tube at one or both ends of the portion of the tube from which the balloon is to be formed. Tension is applied in opposite directions to respective ends of the heated region to draw the region to a smaller diameter, thereby providing a preform having, at the end of the portion of the tube, a tapered, relatively small diameter region of material that has substantially no crystallization or molecular orientation.

Abstract: Dilation balloon devices that employ a metal tube for introduction of inflation fluid from distal end into a balloon have special features that enable introduction through very small passages. A distal core wire is shown forming part of a guide wire extending into the distal end of the tube. The core wire is fixed at the distal end of the tube, and has a proximal extension bridging across a fluid opening formed in the wall of the tube. The wire extension serves to transfer stress from the distal end of the device, across the fluid opening, to adjacent proximal portions of the tube, to prevent stress build-up at the opening that might lead to fracture of the tube during bending. In various embodiments, the device includes a bushing seal at the distal end of the balloon; a helical coil surrounds part or all of the length of the device, with strategic tapers along its length; a shrink tubing is used rather than a coil; and a pair of cross-wound multifilar coils are employed.