High performance balloon catheter/component

Abstract

Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlying balloon and encasing the web with a matrix material to form a composite balloon. The fiber web is applied to at least the cone portion of the underlying balloon form. Either the cone portion of the underlying balloon form, or the web fibers applied to said cone portion, or both, have a friction-enhancing material coated thereon.

1 . A method for preparing composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices, the method comprising:
 applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlying balloon layer having a cone portion having a varying diameter along the length of said cone portion; and   encasing the web with a matrix material to form a composite balloon, wherein   in said applying step, the fiber web is applied to at least the cone portion of the underlying balloon form, and   prior to the applying step, coating a friction-enhancing material is coated onto at least a cone portion of the underlying balloon form, or onto the web fibers to be applied to a cone portion, or onto both.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the friction-enhancing material is an elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the friction-enhancing material is a polymer having a coefficient of friction of about 0.7 or more. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the friction-enhancing material is an adhesive having at least some surface tack at the time the fibers are applied to the underlying balloon. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4  wherein the adhesive is set to form a stronger bond at a time subsequent to applying the fibers to the underlying balloon. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising preparing the underlying balloon layer by a process comprising radially expanding a tubular parison of polymeric material comprising a crystallizable polymer. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said web is applied by forming a roving, mesh, weave, braid, helical winding or knit on the underlying balloon. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7  wherein the size of the fibers is in the range of from about 10 to about 100 denier. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the fiber material is selected from the group consisting of aramid, ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin, liquid crystal polymer and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the underlying balloon is inflated under pressure while the web fibers are applied thereto. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the underlying balloon layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes; polyesters and copolyesters; polycarbonates; polyamide/polyether block copolymers; polyester/polyether segmented block copolymers; silicone-polycarbonate copolymers; polyamides; thermoplastic polyimides; polyacetal; liquid crystal polymers, polyetheretherketone; polyether sulfone; and combinations thereof 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the matrix material is an elastomeric polymer. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices, the method comprising:
 applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlying balloon layer; and   encasing the web with a matrix material to form a composite balloon,   
       wherein
 prior to said applying step an adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the underlying balloon layer, or to the web fibers applied to said portion of the underlying balloon layer, or to both, so that an adhesive bond is formed at least between the underlying balloon layer and the web fibers applied to said portion of the underlying balloon layer. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13  wherein the adhesive is applied to substantially the entire exterior of the underlying balloon layer. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14  wherein the adhesive is tacky at the time of applying the fiber web and subsequently sets to form a stronger bond. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 13  further comprising radially expanding a tubular parison of polymeric material comprising crystallizable polymer to form said underlying balloon layer.