A method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising: continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils with a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.

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 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 method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising the steps of continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils with a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.

A method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising the steps of continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils With a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.

An extruded bead of thermoplastics material and an extruded tape-like web of thermoplastics material are wrapped in a coordinated manner around a rotating mandrel to continuously form a corrugated, helically reinforced, uniquely constructed stretch hose having a thread-like exterior appearance dominated by the web extending in an inclined spiral as it bridges from an outer diameter of each reinforcing coil to an inner diameter of the next-formed reinforcing coil. When the hose is axially compressed, the thin web-defined wall that connects each adjacent pair of reinforcing coils advantageously has one portion that bends or folds radially outwardly, and another portion that bends or folds radially inwardly. Discrete lengths of the hose are treated to minimize stress, to reset memory, and to greatly enhance hose flexibility.