Reinforced medical balloon

摘要

The invention relates to medical balloons, and methods of modifying said balloons by forming a void pattern in their exterior surfaces and filling the voids with a material, such as a fiber or a nanomaterial (e.g., nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes) and a matrix material, e.g., a polymer.

主权项

1. A balloon catheter, comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable balloon positioned adjacent to the distal end of the elongate shaft; a plurality of grooves formed within an exterior surface of the balloon, at least some of the plurality of grooves intersecting at a plurality of intersection points and forming a plurality of non-grooved land areas; and a coating disposed within and filling the grooves, wherein the coating includes nanotubes; and wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves have a width to depth ratio that is about 10:1 or less.