Puncture-Resistant Angioplasty Balloons Developed

In moves to increase safety for high-pressure angioplasty and stent delivery procedures, Advanced Polymers Inc. (Salem, NH) has developed puncture-resistant high-pressure angioplasty balloons. This development has been made possible by a coating that virtually eliminates the chance of an angioplasty balloon being punctured or damaged during stent delivery or after stent dilatation.

A puncture-resistant coating can be produced from a range of polymers.

The coating also increases the coefficient of friction between the stent and the balloon surface and provides good stent retention, eliminating movement or slippage during delivery and deployment. This is a critical issue for high-pressure balloon stenting procedures, as many previously unaddressed concerns about stent slippage are coming to the forefront.

The coating, which can be produced from a variety of polymers depending on the application (polyurethane is typical), is applied to a balloon after a proprietary surface treatment by dipping the balloon into a liquid form of the chosen polymer, followed by oven drying. The drying process allows for cross-linking of the coating to occur, which helps to strengthen the coating and provide more durability, a better bond, and increased resistance to solvents and other chemicals.

The balloons can be produced in a variety of sizes, configurations, lengths, and burst pressures (up to 27 atm/400 psi). Wall thicknesses typically range from 5 to 50 µm, offering minimal invasiveness and the smallest possible profile. Some of the manufacturer's custom capabilities and configurations include unlimited tapered angles, varying diameters, and tapered diameters along the length of the balloon.—Karim Marouf