Angioplasty Balloon Preform Heating via Internal Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing processes for forming angioplasty balloons face challenges in tightly controlling the shaping temperature of preform materials, leading to temperature deviations that can limit the achievable wall thickness and precision in balloon formation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that preheat the preform using a heated gas or fluid, decoupled from the tool temperature, allowing for precise and fast heating to the shaping temperature, and shape the preform into a balloon using a tool with clamping devices and heaters to control the temperature and pressure within the preform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the molding tool is set at a higher temperature than the preform shaping temperature, then the preform material softens and axial elongation increases, but the temperature deviation from shaping temperature limits the achievable wall thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent heating zones along the preform, allowing each zone to be controlled at different temperatures. This enables precise temperature control during the forming process, preventing excessive softening while achieving adequate elongation, thus maintaining wall thickness control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the preform receive different heating intensities tailored to local requirements. The heating elements are positioned and controlled to provide localized thermal treatment, ensuring that each section of the preform reaches the appropriate temperature for its specific forming needs, preventing overall temperature deviation.
2Temperature
If heat exchange with the tool or IR heaters is used for heating the preform, then the shaping temperature can be controlled, but the heating process is slow and temperature uniformity is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system uses dynamically controllable heating elements that can adjust their power output in real-time based on feedback from temperature sensors. This dynamic control allows rapid heating while maintaining temperature uniformity through continuous monitoring and adjustment of heating intensity across different zones.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid circulation system acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the preform, enabling efficient and uniform heat transfer. The heated fluid circulates through channels in contact with the preform, providing rapid and uniform heating throughout the material without direct contact heating limitations.
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 enables reproducible, precise heating of the preform to the shaping temperature, reducing temperature deviations and cycle times, resulting in a more stable and efficient stretch blow molding process with improved balloon wall thickness and precision.
Implementation Method 1
heat of the gas or fluid is transferred to the inner wall of the preform
Data Source
AI summary
A method for forming a balloon provides a preform that encloses an internal space. The preform is pre-heated to a shaping temperature by passing a heated gas or fluid via an inlet of the preform into the internal space. The preform is then shaped the preform into a balloon. A device is configured to heat a preform using heated gas or fluid to decouple heating from the temperature of a shaping tool.