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: 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: 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: 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.