Laguna Niguel, CA, August 23, 2010 – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently awarded Interface Catheter Solutions for “balloon catheter folding and wrapping devices and methods” (Patent No. US 7,762,804).
The patent covers equipment and processes that use arms and blades to create multiple folds in a balloon catheter. Precise radial movement of temperature controlled blades substantially speeds up, simplifies and improves the balloon folding and wrapping process. The balloon can be folded with high consistency and uniformity. The fluter and wrapper provides a minimal profile wrapped balloon for catheter manufacturing.
Depending on the fluting model selected, the balloon can be folded into three, four, five, six or eight flutes. The balloon wrapping method is similar, where the blades wrap a folded balloon around a catheter shaft to minimize the diameter of the balloon catheter. The compact fixtures can be ordered with different lengths of folding blades that accommodate balloons from 1cm to 14cm long (models are available up to 25cm long).
“The patent allows us to continue to innovate and deliver the most reliable solutions to our customers,” said Interface CEO, Gary Curtis. “We have recently launched our dual fluting and wrapping machine the DFW-1000. The DFW-1000 provides simple set-up, top-loading, pivoting catheter platform, easy to program touch screen, interchangeable blade systems and fluter and wrapper modules with improved alignment.”
Interface Catheter Solutions is the only vertically integrated provider of outsourced solutions for balloon catheter manufacturing. Interface has been solely focused on the balloon catheter market since 1995 and continually sets industry standards through process and equipment advancements in balloon catheter manufacturing.
Interface has created more than 2,000 balloon designs, and offers balloon design and development, extruded balloon tubing, balloon contract manufacturing, plus a comprehensive line of balloon catheter production and testing equipment. Interface is ISO 13485:2003 certified and operates multiple class 10,000 (ISO Class 7) and 100,000 (ISO Class 8) clean rooms in three facilities. Interface’s headquarters is located at 27721 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, California. www.interfaceusa.com Tel 949.448.7056.
Company Contacts:
Eric Mabry
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Tel: 949-448-7056 x7148
E-mail: eric.mabry@interfaceusa.com
Ronelle Decker
Marketing Manager
Tel: 949-448-7056 x7151
E-mail: ronelle.decker@interfaceusa.com
