The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for inserting objects into balloons. The apparatus preferably includes a housing having a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein. The balloon chamber is large enough to accommodate an inflated balloon and has a lid through which the inflated balloon can pass. The vacuum pump chamber houses a vacuum pump which is in gaseous communication with the balloon chamber in order to create a vacuum therein. The lid includes an adjustabl...

Device for inflating balloons, particularly balloons supported by tubular shafts, comprising a one-way valve mounted in or at one end of the shaft to be inserted into the neck of the balloon. The valve is provided externally with a projection and rings to deform the neck of the balloon elastically, and ensure the retention of the inflation pressure of the balloon. This sealing may be improved by a tapered sleeve. The valve is made of two parts joined together and forming a cylindrical cavity enc...

Dilatation balloons and catheters including same are provided. The balloons are fabricated of a material such as a nylon or a polyamide material, and they have an inflated, non-distended working profile as well as a stretched inflated profile which is achieved by applying pressure through a dilatation catheter or the like that is in excess of that needed to achieve the inflated, non-distended profile and which is adequate to effect dilatation or the like up to a maximum pre-bursting pressure app...

A valve assembly for filling balloons comprising an elongated generally tubular body member having an upper section and a lower section divided by a transverse interior wall, a radially outwardly directed flange defining a circumferentially extending channel for the bead at the mouth of a balloon, means defining at least one outlet port in the sidewall of the lower section and at least one opening in the side wall of the upper section spaced downwardly from the upper terminal edge thereof.

A liquid-filled balloon may be positioned between a workpiece, such as a semiconductor structure covered with a photoresist, and a lithography light source. The balloon includes a thin membrane that exhibits good optical and physical properties. Liquid contained in the balloon also exhibits good optical properties, including a refractive index higher than that of air. Light from the lithography light source passes through a mask, through a top layer of the balloon membrane, through the contained...

A stent delivery device having a pair of balloons at a proximal end of a catheter and having separate lumens for selectively inflating the respective balloons. The outer balloon is relatively compliant and the inner balloon is relatively non-compliant. A central lumen is provided for a guide wire. A stent is carried by the delivery device within an axially retractable sheath at the distal end of the catheter and is deployed by retraction of the sheath and inflation of the compliant balloon, and ...

Disclosed is a dilatation balloon having a single layer containing polyesteretheramide copolymer. The dilatation balloon may also contain polyamide and/or additional polymers, and may contain substantially no polyetheramide having substantially no ester linkages.

Balloons for medical devices, particularly balloon angioplasty catheters, which have hybrid compliance curves are made from particular block copolymer thermoplastic elastomers. Melt blends of an engineering resin having by a flexural modulus of about 240,000 psi or greater and a block copolymer elastomer having a flexural modulus of about 150,000 psi or less, the block copolymer including at least one block which is structurally similar to the engineering resin are also used to produce medical d...

Balloons for medical devices, particularly balloon angioplasty catheters, which have hybrid compliance curves in which growth rate slows at higher pressures are made from block copolymer thermoplastic elastomers.

A device to inflate a balloon and maintain it in an inflated state while providing access to the expanded balloon orifice for purpose of inserting objects. The device has a transparent, cylindrical, balloon chamber covered by a vertically movable lid having a balloon orifice expanding mechanism consisting of multiple, cam actuated, retracting fingers. Lid support columns also function as air supply ducts and have stops to hold the lid at convenient elevations for insertion of deflated balloons a...