| 摘要 |
A method for forming a balloon for a dilation catheter is provided herein. The method includes the steps of: (i) positioning a tube in a preconditioned mold; (ii) expanding the tube in a preconditioned mold to form a parison; (iii) positioning the parison in a balloon mold; and (iv) expanding the parison within the balloon mold to form the balloon. Thus, the tube is initially expanded into a parison in the preconditioned mold. Subsequently, the parison is expanded into a balloon in the balloon mold. Because of this unique manufacturing process, polyester block copolymers can be formed into balloons. Some of these polyester block copolymers could not be formed into a balloon using prior art blow molding processes. The resulting balloon exhibits superior characteristics, including relatively thin and consistent walls, soft texture, low uninflated crossing profile, expansion in a predictable fashion, and good tensile strength.
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