The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for implementing kissing balloons simulating a bifurcated vessel, comprising a first catheter (4) having a first inflatable balloon (6) at or near its distal portion, a second catheter (7) having a second inflatable balloon (7a) at or near its distal portion, wherein the first catheter comprises a holding element (4) provided on the said first balloon (6), the said holding element (4) being adapted for: allowing the distal portion of the second catheter (7) to pass there through; affixing the second catheter (7) in a proximal vicinity to the first catheter (4) so that, in use, respective facing surfaces of the inflated first balloon (6) and the inflated second balloon (7a) touch each other.

A system for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The sealing component includes a first level and a second lower level. The first level further includes first and second platforms. The first platform can provide a work area for sealing respective first and second sheets of material together to form a sealed edge and the second platform may provide a work area for sealing the second sheet of material and a third sheet of material together. The first, second, and third sheets of material respectively form first, second, and third gores of the balloon envelope. The sealing component may be configured to move along length of the first platform and to apply a heat seal to bond the first sheet of material to the second sheet material and form a sealed edge.

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.

The technology relates to a heat sealing system. For instance, the heat sealing system may include a sealer assembly including a pair of heat sealing bars configured to generate heat seals. The heat sealing system may also include a positioning assembly including a platform and a motor. The sealer assembly may be mounted to the positioning assembly, and the motor may be configured to move the sealer assembly towards and away from an edge of the table.

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.

A method for the production of a bladder accumulator (10) that separates two media chambers (16, 18) from one another in a storage housing (12) by a bladder body (14). The following production steps include extruding a plastic tube over the bladder body (14), shaping the plastic tube with the integrated bladder body (14) in a molding tool that corresponds to a predeterminable plastic core container (20), and winding at least one plastic fiber from the outside on the plastic core container (20) for the purpose of creating the storage housing (12).

A mold form for molding balloons includes a mold form body having multiple linear appendages which extend from the mold form body to create body portions of the balloon. Upon inflating the balloon, the body portions created by the appendages form portions of a shape or features similar to some recognizable object. The appendages on the mold form body are arranged to extend from the mold form body in a way that allows the balloon to be removed from the mold form body using conventional mass manufacturing techniques, but which also produce body portions of the balloon at locations on the balloon, and at angles which allow the body portions to resemble familiar shapes rather than a conventional balloon shape.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to techniques for manufacturing a balloon envelope including a duct for high altitude balloons. In one example, a first sheet of material may be provided. A premade duct may be arranged at least partially on the first sheet of material. The duct may include a first substance on an internal surface. A second sheet of material may be arranged over at least a portion of the duct. A heat sealing device may be applied to the second sheet of material to heat seal the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material. The heat sealing device may be applied over at least a portion of the duct in order to seal external surfaces of the duct to each of the first and second sheets of material and form a balloon gore. The first substance may keep the duct from being sealed to itself.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture is extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The table component may include a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a lateral opening between the first and second platforms. The first and second platforms can receive a first sheet of material that forms a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second sheet of material that forms a second gore of the balloon envelope. At least a portion of the first platform may move relative to the third platform so as to allow for the tendon and the portion of the second sheet attached to the tendon to move toward the third platform. The sealing component may be configured to bond the first sheet to the second sheet in order to join the first and the second gores of the balloon envelope.