Balloon with dividing fabric layers and method for braiding over three-dimensional forms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021269952-A1
Application number	US-202117321661-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2006
Publication date	Sep 2, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering.

First claim

1 . A braiding machine for applying fibers in a braided pattern to a balloon or a balloon mandrel having an axial direction, comprising:
a plurality of floating bobbins for controlling the disposition of the fibers on the balloon or balloon mandrel; and a conveyor table for moving the bobbins to change the braiding pattern on the balloon or balloon mandrel in the axial direction.

2 . The braiding machine of claim 1 , wherein the braiding pattern transitions from a single layer to multiple layers in the axial direction.

3 . The braiding machine of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor table moves the plurality of floating bobbins to form a first braided layer and a second braided layer on the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

4 . The braiding machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bobbins comprise six bobbins.

5 . The braiding machine of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor table is circular.

6 . The braiding machine of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor table includes a central opening.

7 . A braiding machine for applying fibers to a balloon or a balloon mandrel having an axial direction, comprising:
a longitudinal fiber feeder including an axial drive, the longitudinal fiber feeder adapted to feed longitudinal fibers onto the balloon or the balloon mandrel; and a helical fiber feeder for winding a helical fiber in a weave with the longitudinal fibers.

8 . The braiding machine of claim 7 , wherein the helical fiber feeder orbits the balloon or the balloon mandrel on a circular track.

9 . The braiding machine of claim 8 , further including a feeder support connected to a shuttle having a helical fiber spool driven by a shuttle drive and transmission around the circular track.

10 . The braiding machine of claim 7 , further including a longitudinal fiber feeder support and a helical fiber feeder support.

11 . The braiding machine of claim 10 , wherein the feeder supports each comprise a tube.

12 . The braiding machine of claim 10 , wherein the feeder supports are arranged to follow a surface of the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

13 . The braiding machine of claim 7 , further including an axial drive for driving the balloon or the balloon mandrel in the axial direction.

14 . The braiding machine of claim 7 , further including multiple spools for feeding a plurality of longitudinal fibers.

15 . The braiding machine of claim 14 , further including an iris adapted to circumferentially expand and contract to maintain the position of the fibers close to the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

16 . The braiding machine of claim 15 , further including springs or biasing blades that maintain the iris in proximity to the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

17 . The braiding machine of claim 7 , wherein the helical fiber feeder comprises a spool on a shuttle which circles the balloon or the balloon mandrel along a path of travel as the balloon or the balloon mandrel is moved in the axial direction.

18 . A braiding machine for applying fibers to a balloon or a balloon mandrel having an axial direction, comprising:
a fiber feeder for applying the fibers to the balloon, the fiber feeder comprising an iris adapted to circumferentially expand and contract to maintain the position of the fibers close to the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

19 . The braiding machine of claim 18 , further including springs or biasing blades that maintain the iris in proximity to the balloon or the balloon mandrel.

20 . The braiding machine of claim 18 , wherein the fiber feeder comprises a spool on a shuttle which follows along a path of travel as the balloon or the balloon mandrel is moved in the axial direction.

Assignees

• Bard Inc C R

Inventors

• Simpson Charles L

Classifications

• D04C3/48

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• D04C3/24

  Devices for controlling spool carriers to obtain patterns, e.g. devices on guides or track plates · CPC title

• D03D41/00

  Looms not otherwise provided for, e.g. for weaving chenille yarn; Details peculiar to these looms · CPC title

• D03D3/00

  Woven fabrics characterised by their shape · CPC title

• A61M25/1002

  characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence) · CPC title