High strength low compliance composite balloon for balloon catheters

Claim 1

A balloon for securement to a catheter comprising: a resiliently elastomeric generally hollow pressure expandable body having a wall thickness of and being expandable under an internally applied minimum working pressure P from an unexpanded diameter D defL to an expanded diameter D infL said elastomeric body having a decant modules E sec where ##EQU9## where σ(ε infL ) is the nominal uniaxial tension in said body as a function of ε infL and ##EQU10## a substantially non-compliant expandable, constraining structure affixed to said elastomeric body, said constraining structure being formed of fibers having an elongation to break of less than about 10% and a tensile strength greater than about 1 GPa and being selected from the group consisting of aramide, polyethylene, steel, polyester, glass, carbon, ceramics and liquid crystal polymers, said constraining structure limiting expansion of said body to a maximum diameter of D infL wherein said minimum working pressure P required to expand said body to a diameter no greater than D infL is defined by the question: ##EQU11##