BALLOON CATHETER

摘要

The present invention relates to a balloon portion for a balloon catheter (60) for radially expanding a vessel in the body of a mammal, which catheter comprises a tube portion (61) with a passage therethrough and a hollow expandable balloon portion (63) defined by a fluid impervious wall and secured to the tube portion, which balloon portion (63) can be inflated and deflated by means of a fluid passed through the passage, characterised in that: a) the wall of the balloon portion is formed from a flexible substantially fluid imperious material having reinforcing fibres formed integrally with the wall material; and b) the balloon portion (63) is preformed to the desired radial diameter at its inflated state having smaller diameter end portions and a wider diameter portion intermediate the said ends and has a substantially uniform thickness. The invention also provides a balloon catheter in which the balloon portion (63) is a balloon of the invention. The invention further provides a method for making the balloon catheter of the invention.