| 摘要 |
A reinforced medical balloon, including a balloon body member 14, the balloon body member 14 having a circumferential dimension, a longitudinal dimension, and an annular shape in the circumferential dimension, a reinforcement member 30 formed of an array of reinforcement elements 32,34 interleaved with one another so as to include circumferential elements 32 and longitudinal elements 34, the circumferential elements 32 extending in the circumferential dimension of the balloon and substantially transversely to the longitudinal dimension, wherein the circumferential elements 32 have a circular annular shape in the circumferential dimension. The circumferential strengthening elements 32 are pre-tensed in order to remove any undulations within the strengthening elements 32 and to ensure that these have a precise annular size. On the other hand, the longitudinal strengthening elements 34 have undulations therein. The pre-tensing of the strengthening elements 32 ensures that the balloon will not stretch during pressurisation thereof, which can occur when the circumferential strengthening elements have undulations therein, which will be natural artefacts of a weaving or braiding process. The undulations in the longitudinal strengthening elements 34 provides the balloon with increased longitudinal flexibility. |
