Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of randomly oriented fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone wails and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing the internal pressure within the balloon. The balloon comprises a balloon layer having an outer surface, the balloon layer including a base layer, a first reinforcing layer and a second reinforcing layer. The base layer is formed of a polymer material. The first reinforcing layer is one of either a plurality of discrete inelastic fibers oriented substantially parallel to the long axis of the balloon and a first layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. The second reinforcing layer is one of either at least one inelastic fiber wrapped around the circumference of the balloon substantially transverse to the long axis of the balloon and a second layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric.

Abstract: A medical balloon includes a generally cylindrical barrel wall having proximal and distal ends disposed between tapered cone walls and neck walls with a fiber layer comprised of circumferentially wrapped ribbon-shaped fiber embedded in a continuous matrix of polymer material defining the tapered cone walls and barrel wall, wherein the distance between the fiber wraps defines a fiber pitch or density that varies over the working length of the barrel wall in non-linear increments, for example in step-wise increments over the length of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing the internal pressure within the balloon. The balloon comprises a balloon layer having an outer surface, the balloon layer including a base layer, a first reinforcing layer and a second reinforcing layer. The base layer is formed of a polymer material. The first reinforcing layer is one of either a plurality of discrete inelastic fibers oriented substantially parallel to the long axis of the balloon and a first layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric. The second reinforcing layer is one of either at least one inelastic fiber wrapped around the circumference of the balloon substantially transverse to the long axis of the balloon and a second layer of textile fabric material, the textile fabric material being one of a woven, knitted, braided and non-woven fabric.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Abstract: A medical balloon comprises a first end, a second end spaced apart from the first, and a generally cylindrical balloon wall extending therebetween to define an inflation chamber. The balloon wall is adapted for inflation from a first folded configuration having a first plurality of pleats to an expanded, unpleated configuration, and deflation therefrom to a second folded configuration having a second plurality of pleats. The balloon wall includes a first layer formed of a polymer and having a substantially constant radial thickness. A second layer is firmly attached to the first layer and has a plurality of first regions of greater radial thickness interleaved with a plurality of second regions of reduced radial thickness. During deflation from the expanded, unpleated configuration to the second folded configuration, the balloon wall folds along the regions of reduced radial thickness of the second layer to form the second plurality of pleats.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of randomly oriented fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length. The length of the fibers of the second group varies progressively in accordance to their proximity to the fibers of the first group; the fibers of the second group closest to the fibers of the first group being longer than the fibers of the second group further from the fibers of the first group. The fiber of the second fiber layer winds circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the balloon substantially over the entire length of the balloon.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of randomly oriented fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.

Abstract: A catheter includes a balloon and a shaft having a coaxial portion including an outer tubular member having a bore, a transition neck, an access fitting adjacent the proximate end of the catheter shaft for directing a guidewire into the catheter shaft, an inflation port, a guidewire tubular member disposed coaxially in the outer tubular member, the outer tubular member and guidewire tubular member defining a first, annular inflation/deflation lumen fluid communication with the inflation port, at least one second inflation/deflation lumen separate from and non-coaxial with the guidewire tubular member and having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the first inflation/deflation lumen and opening at a proximate end into the first inflation/deflation lumen and at the distal end of the transition neck.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Abstract: A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.