Balloon Catheter Parison Shape Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing balloon catheters face instability in the shape of the parison due to ambiguous temperature differences between heated and non-heated portions of the tube, leading to unpredictable balloon formation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that fix and heat specific portions of a thermoplastic tube, establish a clear temperature difference by cooling between these portions, and stretch the heated areas to form a stable parison, ensuring a distinct thick and thin portion structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating unit with space is used to heat the tube, then the heating process can be performed, but the temperature difference between heated and non-heated portions becomes ambiguous causing unstable parison shape
Solution Approach 1:
The heating unit is divided into multiple independent heating zones (first heating zone and second heating zone) along the major axis direction. Each zone can be independently controlled to create distinct temperature regions, allowing clear differentiation between heated and non-heated portions of the tube, thereby stabilizing the parison shape during formation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the tube is heated and stretched to form parison, then the balloon structure can be created, but the ambiguous temperature boundary causes unstable parison shape
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the tube are subjected to different thermal treatments: the first and second heating zones heat specific regions to enable stretching, while the third heating zone (or non-heated portions) maintains lower temperatures to prevent unwanted expansion. This local differentiation of thermal properties ensures that only the intended portions are stretched, creating a stable and consistent parison shape with defined thick and thin sections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach stabilizes the parison shape by maintaining a controlled temperature difference, preventing unwanted temperature rises and ensuring reliable formation of the balloon catheter's structure, resulting in a consistently shaped balloon.
Implementation Method 1
heating a pair of heating portions of the tube, the pair of heating portions being located between the pair of fixing portions and separated from each other in the major axis direction
Implementation Method 2
cooling at least a part of a portion between the pair of heating portions of the tube during the heating step
Implementation Method 3
a surface of the heating portion may be maintained at a temperature higher than a glass transition temperature of the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a parison for a balloon catheter, a method for producing a balloon catheter, and a device for producing a parison for a balloon catheter, by which a shape of the parison can be stably formed by lowering a heating temperature of a tube. A method for producing a parison for a balloon catheter includes: fixing a pair of fixing portions of a thermoplastic tube extending along a major axis direction; heating a pair of heating portions located between the pair of fixing portions; cooling at least a part of a portion between the pair of heating portions of the tube during the heating a pair of heating portions located between the pair of fixing portions; and pulling the tube in a direction in which the pair of fixing portions are separated from each other, and stretching the pair of heating portions.