Method of making an improved balloon cuff tracheostomy tube
US8313687B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/753
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
There is provided a method of making a balloon having a differential thickness. The method uses a raw tube composed of a thermoplastic polymer which is placed in an asymmetrical mold. The tube is preheated in the mold to a temperature sufficient to soften the material of the tube and inflated with a gas to generally uniformly stretch the material of the tube while allowing the tube to retract lengthwise, thus forming a balloon. The resulting completed balloon has a differential wall thickness wherein the upper region has a thickness of from about 15 to about 30 micrometers and the lower region has a thickness of from about 5 to about 15 micrometers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.