CATHETER WITH BALLOON FOLDING INTO PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATIONS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

A medical catheter (10) having a balloon (3) adapted to be folded into a predetermined configuration. The catheter comprises a flexible inflation member (2) with a balloon (3) disposed on the inflation member (2). The balloon has a flexible wall defining an inflation chamber and the inflation chamber is in fluid flow relation with an inflation lumen in the inflation member. The balloon (3) is adapted for inflation from a folded configuration to an inflated, expanded configuration and back to the folded configuration. An array of longitudinally and circumferentially arranged ribs (6) is disposed in said wall (3a). The ribs (6) are either more stiff or less stiff than the wall (3a) whereby upon evacuation of inflation fluid from the balloon (3) either portions of the wall between the ribs will collapse between the ribs or the ribs will collapse within the wall.