Abstract

The invention is directed to a device and a method for process-optimized and cycle-optimized blow-moulding of balloon components for medical catheters, wherein hitherto separate process steps are combined in one process step, by a suitable tool configuration, and hitherto time-intensive cycle steps are considerably shortened within one process step and their qualitative moulding result improved. The tubular blank remains in the moulding device throughout the entire moulding process, across a plurality of process steps, and does not have to be repeatedly manually removed during the moulding or inserted anew into the device.

IPC Classes  ?

• B29C 49/18 - Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mouldApparatus therefor using several blowing steps
• B29C 49/78 - Measuring, controlling or regulating

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1, 2) and to a method for producing balloon-shaped or hollow bodies from a tubular blank or extrudate by blow moulding, using at least one moulding tool having at least one temperature-controllable hollow mould, within which the blank can be inflated until the desired shape is attained and is fixed in said mould by warming and subsequent cooling. The hollow mould that is used is designed as a wall (14) having an inwardly defining surface (16, 17) and an outwardly defining surface (16, 17). One or more hollow spaces (15, 20, 22, 210, 304, 311) for the circulation of a liquid medium are arranged approximately in the centre between said surfaces.

IPC Classes  ?

• B29C 49/48 - Moulds
• A61F 2/958 - Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• B29C 33/04 - Moulds or coresDetails thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated heating or cooling means using liquids, gas or steam
• B29C 49/14 - Clamps
• A61M 39/08 - TubesStorage means specially adapted therefor
• B29C 35/04 - Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising using liquids, gas or steam
• B29C 49/04 - Extrusion blow-moulding
• B29C 55/28 - Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a dieApparatus therefor of blown tubular films, e.g. by inflation