A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be wrapped appropriately. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon of a balloon catheter provided with the balloon at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions; a folding section that includes a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a rotational support portion that supports a portion of the shaft which portion is on a proximal side of the balloon, and that rotates the shaft in a direction opposite to a rotary movement direction of the blades in a state in which the balloon is positioned in relation to the folding section.

A balloon catheter includes a shaft and a balloon having one or more fold lines. The balloon is disposed outside the shaft, and the balloon includes one or more first regions and one or more second regions. The first region retains medicine on an outer surface of the balloon. The second region retains less medicine than the first region or retains no medicine.

A balloon wrapping apparatus is disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned and inserted in relation to a pleating section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon provided at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes; a folding section that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along a circumferential direction; a support base that supports a portion other than the distal portion of the shaft, and that makes the distal portion of the shaft insertable into the pleating section and the folding section; and a core metal member to be inserted in the shaft. The core metal member is inserted in the shaft from a distal end position of the balloon to at least the proximal side of a proximal end position of the balloon.

A balloon for medical treatments such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), delivery of a vascular stents or stent grafts, employs reinforcement materials that are patterned so as to promote consistent folding of the balloon. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for biocidal treatment using a balloon, including balloons with fiber fabric reinforcements.

A movable protection and/or rewrapping device for a balloon catheter may include a tubular member with a bore extending along a length thereof. The tubular member may have at least one rib disposed on an inner surface of the bore. The tubular member may be flared away from the bore at one end and inwardly tapered at the other end. The rewrapping device may include an actuator configured to open a longitudinal slit in the tubular member.

A balloon catheter includes a shaft, and a balloon provided outside the shaft. A drug is provided on an outer surface of the balloon, and the balloon has at least a straight tube part. A change ratio of an outer diameter of the straight tube part, (D28−D24)/D24, is 1.1% or less. D24 is the outer diameter of the straight tube part when an internal pressure of 2.43 MPa (24 atm) is applied, and D28 is the outer diameter of the straight tube part when an internal pressure of 2.84 MPa (28 atm) is applied.

A balloon catheter includes a balloon/shaft assembly and a linear member. The balloon/shaft assembly includes a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a balloon connected to the catheter shaft. The linear member straddles an inflatable region of the balloon and is mounted on the balloon/shaft assembly. The linear member includes a hard portion and a flexible portion. The hard portion includes at least an outer portion disposed on an opposite side to an inner portion facing the inflatable region, of a portion disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the inflatable region in an inflated state. The flexible portion is a portion other than the hard portion. The flexible portion is extendable and has a lower hardness than the hard portion.

The present disclosure describes implantable medical devices comprising covers, such as a balloon cover. Such devices can comprise a first layer of a porous polymeric material, such as ePTFE, surrounded by layers of a porous polymeric material having an imbibed elastomer, such as polyurethane. The cover can be used to assist in deployment of an expandable implant, such as a stent-graft, within the body of the patient.

A balloon catheter includes a flexible outer cylinder shaft, a holding member connected to a proximal end portion of the outer cylinder shaft, a sealing member that maintains liquid tightness incorporated in the holding member, a flexible inner cylinder shaft, a tube having a Rockwell hardness of R 115 or more, a flexural modulus of 3.0 to 4.5 GPa, and a thickness of 0.06 to 0.12 mm, a push-in member connected to a proximal end portion of the inner cylinder shaft, a pull-out prevention member connected to the push-in member, and a balloon composed of an elastic material and connected to each of the distal end portion of the outer cylinder shaft and the proximal end portion of the inner cylinder shaft, wherein the tube is inserted over the inner cylinder shaft over an area thereof except for a connecting portion between the balloon and the inner cylinder shaft.

The present disclosure describes implantable medical devices comprising covers, such as a balloon cover. Such devices can comprise a first layer of a porous polymeric material, such as ePTFE, surrounded by layers of a porous polymeric material having an imbibed elastomer, such as polyurethane. The cover can be used to assist in deployment of an expandable implant, such as a stent-graft, within the body of the patient.