Dimensionally stable balloons

Abstract

A medical balloon composed of a micro-composite material which provides for radial expansion of a balloon to a predetermined extent, but which has minimal longitudinal growth during balloon inflation. The micro-composite material includes a fibril component, a matrix component, and optionally, a compatibilizer. The fibril component may preferably be liquid crystal polymer fibers randomly scattered through out the balloon material. The liquid crystal polymers are created by extrusion at high speed. An alternative fibril component may be a PET fibers which are uniformly spaced about the balloon material and extend through out the length of the balloon material tube.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A dimensionally stable polymer balloon having a longitudinal axis and composed of micro-composite material, the micro-composite material comprising a polymer matrix component and a polymer fibril component distributed in the polymer matrix component wherein the matrix component comprises a polyamide-polyester block copolymer, a polyamide/polyether/polyester block copolymer, a polyester-polyether block copolymer, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A dimensionally stable polymer balloon having a longitudinal axis and composed of micro-composite material, the micro-composite material comprising a polymer matrix component and a polymer fibril component distributed in the polymer matrix component, wherein the matrix component comprises a polyalkylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         19 . The dimensionally stable polymer balloon of claim  39  wherein said polyalkylene terephthalate is polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         20 . An inflatable medical balloon which is mounted on a catheter, and has a determined preinflation length, restricted longitudinal and radial characteristics, a circumference and a longitudinal axis, composed of a micro-composite material comprising a semi-compliant polymer matrix material with a polymer fibril component distributed in the polymer matrix material, the polymer fibril component having micro-fibers oriented substantially parallel or diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the balloon, the polymer fibril component composed of one or more materials which are stronger than the matrix material and have bulk elongation between 50% and 150%, which is less than the matrix material and the fibril component and the matrix component operatively adhere to one another.  
     
     
         21 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said micro-composite material comprises about 0.1 wt-% to about 20 wt-% of said fibril component.  
     
     
         22 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said micro-composite material comprises about 0.5 wt-% to about 8 wt-% of said fibril component.  
     
     
         23 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said micro-composite material comprises about 0.5 wt-% to about 15 wt-% of said fibril component.  
     
     
         24 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said micro-composite material comprises about 50 wt-% to about 99.9 wt-% of said polymer matrix component.  
     
     
         25 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said micro-composite material comprises about 85 wt-% to about 99.5 wt-% of said polymer matrix component.  
     
     
         26 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said fibril component is selected from the group consisting of polyetheretherketone and polyphenylene sulfide.  
     
     
         27 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said fibril component is an aromatic nylon.  
     
     
         28 . The inflatable medical balloon of claim  41  wherein said fibril component is a non-liquid crystal polymer fibril component selected from the group consisting of rigid polyurethane and polyester-polyurethane blends.