Robust multi-layer balloon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9669196-B2
Application number	US-201314083821-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2013
Priority date	Nov 26, 2008
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A multilayer balloon catheter is formed to have an inner layer and an outer layer, where the outer layer is adapted to resist shredding and premature rupture. The outer layer is formed of a material having a glass transition temperature that is lower than the transition or melting temperature of the inner layer. By forming the balloon on a mold at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the outer layer and the glass transition or melting temperature of the inner layer, the outer layer will undergo a thermal relaxation that will alleviate some of the axial orientation of the polymer chains that develop during the formation of the multilayer balloon. This relaxation leads to a resistance to shredding when the balloon is expanded during operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A balloon for a catheter, comprising:
a balloon which has an interior, the balloon having an outer layer and an inner layer, the outer layer comprising a first material having a first transition temperature, and the inner layer comprising a second material having a second transition temperature, the second transition temperature being higher than the first transition temperature; and
wherein the balloon is formed by coextruding the first material and the second material into a single piece tubular member and expanding the single piece tubular member in a balloon mold having a surface temperature between the first transition temperature and the second transition temperature.

2. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the first transition temperature is a glass transition temperature.

3. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the second transition temperature is a melting temperature.

4. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the surface temperature of the balloon mold is between 120° C. and 150° C.

5. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the surface temperature of the balloon mold thermally relaxes polymer chains in the outer layer from a high axial orientation to an orientation where the axial orientation is reduced.

6. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise layers of the balloon.

7. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is an amorphous polymer.

8. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the inner layer is a semi-crystalline polymer.

9. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are both made of a polyamide.

10. The balloon of claim 9 wherein the polyamide is selected from a group comprising polyamide 12, polyamide 11, polyamide 6, and polyamide 6,6 or copolyamides of polyamide 12, polyamide 11, polyamide 6, and polyamide 6,6.

11. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is comprised of a copolymer of aliphatic type with aromatic type.

12. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is comprised of a copolymer of aliphatic type with cycloaliphatic type.

13. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the inner layer is comprised of a copolymer of polyamide and polytetramethylene oxide.

14. The balloon of claim 1 wherein the balloon is formed with the outer layer having a first degree of axial orientation of polymer strands and the inner layer having a second degree of axial orientation of polymer strands, the second degree of axial orientation being greater than the first degree of axial orientation.

15. A balloon catheter, comprising:
a balloon which has an interior, the balloon having an outer layer and an inner layer, the outer layer comprising a first material having a first transition temperature, and the inner layer comprising a second material having a second transition temperature, the second transition temperature being higher than the first transition temperature; and
wherein the balloon is formed by coextruding the first material and the second material into a single piece tubular member and expanding the single piece tubular member in a balloon mold having a surface temperature between the first transition temperature and the second transition temperature, further wherein the balloon is formed with the outer layer having a first degree of axial orientation of polymer strands and the inner layer having a second degree of axial orientation of polymer strands, the second degree of axial orientation being greater than the first degree of axial orientation.

Assignees

• Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc

Inventors

• Lee Jeong S
• Vasquez Flores Fortino

Classifications

• B29C49/22

  using multilayered preforms or parisons · CPC title

• B29C49/0005

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• B32B2307/581

  Resistant to cut · CPC title

• A61M29/00 Primary

  Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies · CPC title

• B32B2270/00

  Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers · CPC title