Medical devices and processes for preparing same

Abstract

Medical balloons comprising a predetermined pattern of conductive materials and methods of making the same.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A process for forming a medical balloon comprising:
 a) providing a removable shape form that defines the shape of the medical balloon;   b) depositing at least one layer of a polymer composition on the shape-form;   c) applying conductive fibers or a conductive wire on the polymer composition in a predetermined pattern; and   d) removing the shape-form.   
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said depositing is selected from spray, print, dip or brush deposition. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said polymer composition comprises a curable polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said balloon comprises a multilayer structure said at least one first layer of said polymer composition comprises an elastic polymer composition and further comprising at least one second layer comprising a second polymer composition that is less compliant. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said conductive fibers are sprayed as a mixture with a curable composition. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said pattern is a spiral pattern, radial stripes, longitudinal stripes, and spots. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 21  wherein any intervening space between said pattern of said conductive fibers is non-conductive. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 21  comprising spiraling or coil winding said conductive wire on said surface of said polymer composition. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 21  further comprising:
 (e) providing at least one second polymer composition that comprises a polymer blend which is different than said first polymer blend, said second polymer blend comprises said conductive fibers; and 
 (f) applying said second polymer blend on said shape form to create transitions within said balloon wherein a predetermined pattern of conductive fibers and the intervening space between said pattern of said conductive fibers is non-conductive. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said pattern comprises axial rings, circumference strips or spiral. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said applying is spraying, dipping, brushing or printing. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said applying step is spraying, said spraying is conducted with at least two spray heads. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 33  wherein said second polymer composition is curable. 
     
     
         34 . A medical balloon formed from at least one polymer composition, the medical balloon comprising a predetermined pattern of conductive regions comprising conductive fibers, intervening regions between said pattern of conductive regions are non-conductive. 
     
     
         35 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein said pattern comprises spiral, spots, axial stripes or longitudinal stripes. 
     
     
         36 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein said at least one polymer composition is curable. 
     
     
         37 . The medical balloon of  claim 34  wherein said balloon comprises a multilayer structure comprising a first layer and a second layer, said first layer comprising said at least on polymer composition, said at least one polymer composition is an elastic polymer composition, said second layer comprising a polymer composition that is less compliant. 
     
     
         38 . A medical balloon formed from at least one polymer composition, the medical balloon comprising conductive wire, said conductive wire is spirally wrapped about said balloon. 
     
     
         39 . The medical balloon of  claim 38  wherein said at least one polymer composition is curable. 
     
     
         40 . The medical balloon of  claim 38  wherein said balloon comprises a multilayer structure comprising a first layer and a second layer, said first layer comprising said at least on polymer composition, said at least one polymer composition is an elastic polymer composition, said second layer comprising a polymer composition that is less compliant.