Inflatable device with etched modifications

Abstract

Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An inflatable medical device comprising;
 a wall comprising a network of polymer chains, the wall having a surface; and   at least one low heat laser-formed modification on said surface;   wherein the wall is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a network morphology, and the network morphology of an area surrounding the low heat laser-formed modification is substantially unaffected by thermal effects. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape includes:
 at least one body region;   at least one leg region;   at least one cone region extending between the body region and the leg region; and   a longitudinal axis extending through the body, leg and cone regions.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the surface is an inner surface of the wall and wherein the low heat laser-formed modification is on the inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the low heat laser-formed modification is on an inner surface of the leg region. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the low heat laser-formed modification comprises at least one recession in the surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the recession extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the device further comprises a circumferential perimeter, and the recession in the surface extends around at least a portion of the circumferential perimeter. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the recession is on the cone region. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a width of the recession tapers as it extends toward the leg region. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fabricating an inflatable device, the method comprising;
 applying low heat laser pulses to a surface of the inflatable device;   ablating excess material from the surface of the inflatable device; and   leaving a network morphology of the surface substantially unaffected by thermal effects.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 forming at least one body region;   forming at least one leg region;   forming at least one cone region extending between the body and leg regions;   forming a longitudinal axis extending through the body region, leg region, and cone region.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising partially ablating an inner surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising exposing an inner layer beneath an outer layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ablating excess material includes ablating in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the inflatable device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ablating excess material includes ablating at least a portion of a cone region of the inflatable device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ablating excess material includes ablating at least a portion of a leg region of the inflatable device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ablating excess material includes ablating at least a portion of a body region of the inflatable device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein ablating excess material includes ablating around a perimeter of the inflatable device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein applying low heat laser pulses applies ultrashort laser pulses less than 1000 picoseconds in duration.