Claims
- 1. A balloon having a longitudinal axis, said balloon comprising an elastomeric material, a first polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially circumferential to the longitudinal axis.
- 2. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material is chosen from the group consisting of fluoroelastomers, silicones, latexes and polyurethanes.
- 3. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein the balloon has a substantially round transverse cross section when inflated and when subsequently deflated.
- 4. A balloon according to claim I used to distend a medical device.
- 5. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein said balloon following inflation to 5 atmospheres and subsequent deflation has a compaction ratio of greater than about 0.5.
- 6. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein said balloon during inflation exhibits a larger diameter at a first portion of its length than at a second portion.
- 7. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein an end of said balloon is elastomer-impregnated polytetrafluoroethylene material affixed to a catheter shaft.
- 8. A balloon according to claim 1 wherein said first and second polytetrafluoroethylene materials are porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials and wherein at least a portion of said elastomeric material is impregnated into the porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials.
- 9. A balloon having ,a longitudinal axis, said balloon comprising a first porous polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second porous polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially circumferential to the longitudinal axis, wherein said balloon is capable of delivering a fluid through the first and second polytetrafluoroethylene materials.
- 10. A balloon cover for a balloon having a longitudinal axis, said balloon cover comprising an elastomeric material, a first polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially circumferential to the longitudinal axis.
- 11. A balloon cover according to claim 10 wherein the elastomeric material is chosen from the group consisting of fluoroelastomers, silicones, latexes and polyurethanes.
- 12. A balloon cover according to claim 10 wherein said first and second polytetrafluoroethylene materials are porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials and wherein at least a portion of said elastomeric material is impregnated into the porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials.
- 13. A method of making a balloon comprising:
- a) forming a tube from at least two layers of porous polytetrafluoroethylene; and
- b) impregnating the tube with an elastomer.
- 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the balloon is affixed to a catheter shaft.
- 15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the method of forming the tube from at least two layers of porous polytetrafluoroethylene comprises:
- a) fitting a porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube over a mandrel;
- b) fitting at least one tube of helically wrapped porous polytetrafluoroethylene film over the porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube;
- c) applying tension to the tube of helically wrapped porous polytetrafluoroethylene film to cause it to fit snugly to the porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube;
- d) applying heat to the mandrel, the tube of helically wrapped porous polytetrafluoroethylene film and the porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube to create a reinforced tube; and
- e) removing the reinforced tube from the mandrel.
- 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the balloon is affixed to a catheter shaft.
- 17. A method according to claim 15 wherein prior to impregnating the reinforced tube with an elastomer, longitudinal compression is applied to the reinforced tube thereby causing a reduction in length of the reinforced tube.
- 18. A method of using a balloon catheter having a balloon having a longitudinal axis, said balloon comprising an elastomeric material, a first polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second polytetrafluoroethylene material oriented substantially circumferential to the longitudinal axis, said method comprising a surgical vascular procedure selected from the group consisting of graft delivery, graft distension, stent delivery, stent distension and angioplasty.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/532,905 filed Sep. 18, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,934.
US Referenced Citations (32)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
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372088 |
Jun 1990 |
EPX |
9614895 |
May 1996 |
WOX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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532905 |
Sep 1995 |
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