The present disclosure is directed toward a composite balloon comprising a layer of material having a porous microstructure (e.g., ePTFE or expanded polyethylene) and a thermoplastic polymeric layer useful for medical applications. The layers of the composite balloons become adhered through a stretch blow-molding process. Methods of making and using such composite balloons are also described amongst others.

Patient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI.

A method, system and device for securing conductive material on catheter elements for tissue sensing and cryogenic ablation. This may be used to deposit or embed conductive material onto or within polymeric materials. The method of manufacturing a balloon with conductive material may include extruding a polymeric material where the polymeric material includes embedded electrically conductive material. At least a portion of the polymeric material may be removed to expose at least a portion of the embedded electrically conductive material. The benefits may include allowing local bipolar recordings, contact assessment and ice thickness, and compatibility with 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping systems.

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.

A parison for being blow molded into a medical balloon for a catheter includes a first tubular layer having a functional modification and a second tubular layer adapted for bonding with the first tubular layer to form the blow molded balloon. Related methods are disclosed.

A balloon in which a rupture in a circumferential direction can be prevented from occurring, and a method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The balloon is configured to be arranged on a medical catheter, and includes a dilatable cylindrical portion formed with a birefringent polymer material. A ratio of the number of orientation distributions, calculated by dividing the number of orientation distributions of the cylindrical portion in a circumferential direction by the number of orientation distributions of the cylindrical portion in an axial direction, is less than 2.

An expandable medical balloon, comprising a balloon, the balloon comprising a cone portion, a waist portion and a body portion and a fiber braid disposed along the cone portion, the waist portion and the body portion of the balloon, the fiber braid comprising a first fiber and a second fiber that is different than the first fiber, the first fiber comprising a polymer material having a first melting temperature and the second fiber is a non-melting fiber.

A method of welding a sleeve (10) to a tube (20) includes putting onto end portions (11) of the sleeve (10) respective protective elements (40), of a material that cannot be fused with the materials of the sleeve (10) and of the outer coating (24) of the tube (20); applying on each end portion (11) of the sleeve (10) covered by a protective element (40) a respective heat-shrink element (30); supplying each heat-shrink element (30) with a quantity of heat (Q) which by heating it causes it to shrink and compress the respective end portion (11) of the sleeve (10) against the tube (20), where this quantity of heat (Q) is transmitted to the end portion (11) of the sleeve (10) to obtain a welding of the sleeve (10) to the tube (20) and produce a device (1) comprising the tube (20) with the sleeve (10).

A serration balloon can have a number of different components and can be made in a number of different manners. One or more longitudinally extending members with periodic raised wedges can be attached to a medical balloon. They can be attached with a fiber coating, a polymer coating, or other methods. A polymer matrix can be used to bond the longitudinally extending member to the surface of the balloon. The fiber coating can be, for example, a thread or mesh that secures the longitudinally extending member to the balloon. The medical balloon can be an angioplasty balloon, such as an off-the-shelf angioplasty balloon.

A bifurcated dual-balloon catheter apparatus for deploying one or more stents to a bifurcated vessel or for use in angioplasty procedures involving bifurcated vessels. The apparatus is particularly suited for bifurcated vessels of the type having a main branch from which a side branch extends therefrom. The apparatus has a main branch balloon and a side branch balloon. A conduit is provided in the main branch balloon through which a portion of the side branch balloon extends. The first balloon is positionable within the main branch of the vessel while the distal portion of the second balloon is positionable within the side branch such that when the first and second balloons are inflated, the first balloon expands radially in the main branch while the distal portion of said second balloon maintains registration with the side branch by expanding radially therein.