A method of forming a balloon for a medical device is provided including extruding a cylindrical tube of silicone material, partially curing the cylindrical tube, inflating the cylindrical tube, and fully curing the balloon. The cylindrical tube is partially cured by exposing the cylindrical tube to a first ultraviolet light source. The cylindrical tube is inflated within a mold to form the balloon. The balloon is fully cured by exposing the balloon to a second ultraviolet light source.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.

A medical balloon is provided for which the working surface may be identified during an interventional procedure with enhanced precision. Related methods of manufacturing such a balloon are also disclosed.

A balloon wrapping apparatus and a balloon wrapping method are disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned in relation to a pleating section and to a folding section. 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 having a plurality of blades aligned with space parts therebetween in a circumferential direction, and forms the balloon with wing shapes projecting in radial directions by clamping the balloon in the space parts by moving rotationally the blades; and a folding section having a plurality of blades aligned in a circumferential direction, and that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon in the circumferential direction by moving rotationally the blades; and a support base that supports a part of the shaft which part is on a proximal side of the balloon.

A balloon catheter is disclosed having a distal side shaft formed of a resin material, a proximal shaft formed of a metal material, and an inner tubular shaft disposed along an inclined portion and a concave portion of the proximal shaft. The distal side shaft is joined to the proximal shaft at the small diameter portion on the proximal side from a distal opening of the proximal shaft. The distal opening of the proximal shaft is disposed on the distal side from a guide wire proximal opening.

A balloon suitable for use in a catheter for carrying out a method for angioplasty consists of a middle cylindrical region and two end regions delimiting the middle cylindrical region. The balloon, with a pressure application of 6 bar, has a ratio of the cross section in the middle region to the cross sections in the two end regions of at least 2, and preferably greater than 3. The balloon can have a balloon wall thickness in the middle cylindrical region that is greater than or equal to a balloon wall thickness in the two end regions and is preferably more than 10% thicker than a balloon wall thickness in the two end sections.

A medical balloon is provided for which the working surface may be identified during an inverventional procedure with enhanced precision. Related methods of manufacturing such a balloon are also disclosed.

A method for forming a balloon provides a preform that encloses an internal space. The preform is pre-heated to a shaping temperature by passing a heated gas or fluid via an inlet of the preform into the internal space. The preform is then shaped the preform into a balloon. A device is configured to heat a preform using heated gas or fluid to decouple heating from the temperature of a shaping tool.

A method of manufacturing includes forming a medical balloon (12) with a scoring element (60) along at least a barrel section by expanding a tubular parison in a mold cavity (52) including a closed end groove (52a, 52b) corresponding to the scoring element. The scoring element may extend longitudinally, circumferentially, or helically, and a plurality of scoring elements may be provided. Medical balloons formed using the method and a mold (54) for forming such balloons are also disclosed.

Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be medical invasive balloons, such as those used for transcutaneous heart valve implantation, such as balloons used for transcatheter aortic-valve implantation. The balloons can have high strength, fiber-reinforced walls.