the preferred balloons of the invention are made of polyamide / polyether block copolymers . the polyamide / polyether block copolymers are commonly identified by the acronym peba ( polyether block amide ). the polyamide and polyether segments of these block copolymers may be linked through amide linkages , however , most preferred are ester linked segmented polymers , i . e . polyamide / polyether polyesters . such polyamide / polyether / polyester block copolymers are made by a molten state polycondensation reaction of a dicarboxylic polyamide and a polyether diol . the result is a short chain polyester made up of blocks of polyamide and polyether . the polyamide and polyether blocks are not miscible . thus the materials are characterized by a two phase structure : one is a thermoplastic region that is primarily polyamide and the other is elastomer region that is rich in polyether . the polyamide segments are semicrystalline at room temperature . the generalized chemical formula for these polyester polymers may be represented by the following formula : in which pa is a polyamide segment , pe is a polyether segment and the repeating number n is between 5 and 10 . the polyamide segments are suitably aliphatic polyamides , such as nylons 12 , 11 , 9 , 6 , 6 / 12 , 6 / 11 , 6 / 9 , or 6 / 6 . most preferably they are nylon 12 segments . the polyamide segments may also be based on aromatic polyamides but in such case significantly lower compliance characteristics are to be expected . the polyamide segments are relatively low molecular weight , generally within the range of 500 - 8 , 000 , more preferably 2 , 000 - 6 , 000 , most preferably about 3 , 000 - 5 , 000 . the polyether segments are aliphatic polyethers having at least 2 and no more than 10 linear saturated aliphatic carbon atoms between ether linkages . more preferably the ether segments have 4 - 6 carbons between ether linkages , and most preferably they are poly ( tetramethylene ether ) segments . examples of other polyethers which may be employed in place of the preferred tetramethylene ether segments include polyethylene glycol , polypropylene glycol , poly ( pentamethylene ether ) and poly ( hexamethylene ether ). the hydrocarbon portions of the polyether may be optionally branched . an example is the polyether of 2 - ethylhexane diol . generally such branches will contain no more than two carbon atoms . the molecular weight of the polyether segments . is suitably between about 400 and 2 , 500 , preferably between 650 and 1000 . the weight ratio of polyamide to polyether in the polyamide / polyether polyesters used in the invention desirably should be in the range of 50 / 50 to 95 / 5 , preferably between 60 / 30 and 92 / 08 , more preferably , between 70 / 30 and 90 / 10 . polyamide / polyether polyesters are sold commercially under the pebax trademark by atochem north america , inc ., philadelphia pa . examples of suitable commercially available polymers are the pebax ® 33 series polymers with hardness 60 and above , shore d scale , especially pebax ® 7033 and 6333 . these polymers are made up of nylon 12 segments and poly ( tetramethylene ether ) segments in about 90 / 10 and about 80 / 20 weight ratios , respectively . the average molecular weight of the individual segments of nylon 12 is in the range of about 3 , 000 - 5 , 000 grams / mole and of the poly ( tetramethylene ether ) segments are in the ranges of about 750 - 1 , 250 for the 6333 polymer and about 500 - 800 for the 7033 polymer . the inherent viscosities of these polymers are in the range of 1 . 33 to 1 . 50 dl / g . generally speaking , balloons of pebax ® 7033 type polymer exhibit borderline non - compliant to semi - compliant behavior and balloons of pebax ® 6333 type polymer show semi - compliant to compliant distension behavior , depending on the balloon forming conditions . while the pebax ®- type polyamide / polyether polyesters are most preferred , it is also possible to use other peba polymers with the physical properties specified herein and obtain similar compliance , strength and softness characteristics in the finished balloon . as an alternative to polyamide elastomers , it is also possible to utilize polyester / polyether segmented block copolymers and obtain similar balloon properties . such polymers are made up of at least two polyester and at least two polyether segments . the polyether segments are the same as previously described for the polyamide / polyether block copolymers useful in the invention . the polyester segments are polyesters of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a two to four carbon diol . suitable dicarboxylic acids used to prepare the polyester segments of the polyester / polyether block copolymers are ortho -, meta - or para - phthalic acid , naphthalenedicarboxylic acid or meta - terphenyl - 4 , 4 ′- dicarboxylic acids . preferred polyester / polyether block copolymers are poly ( butylene terephthalate )- block - poly ( tetramethylene oxide ) polymers such as amritel em 740 , sold by dsm engineering plastics . hytrel polymers , sold by dupont which meet the physical and chemical specifications set out herein can also be used , but are less preferred . it is believed important that the block copolymers have a hardness , shore d scale , of at least 60 and a flexural modulus of no more than about 150 , 000 , in order to obtain the desirable combination of strength , compliance and softness characteristics which distinguish the inventive balloons . preferably the shore d hardness is in the range of 65 - 75 and the flexural modulus is in the range of 50 , 000 - 120 , 000 . the preferred polymers useful in the invention are also characterized by a high ultimate elongation of about 300 % or higher and an ultimate tensile strength of at least 6 , 000 psi . the balloons of the invention are made using known techniques for forming catheter balloons . for coronary angioplasty catheter balloons ( balloon diameters of about 1 . 5 - 4 . 0 mm ), single wall thicknesses of less than 0 . 001 inches , preferably less than 0 . 0007 inches , are readily obtained . wall strengths for such balloons are in excess of 15 , 000 , typically at least 18 , 000 psi , and in most cases in the range of about 20 , 000 to 32 , 000 psi . for peripheral angioplasty , balloons of up to 10 mm diameter may be used and in such cases somewhat thicker walls may be employed . even with a 10 mm balloon , wall thicknesses of about 0 . 0015 mm or less can be employed to provide balloons with burst pressures of at least 10 atm . suitably the balloons are formed by expansion of tubing at a hoop ratio ( mold diameter / tubing id ) of between 3 and 8 , preferably between 4 and 7 . the following examples illustrate the preparation and unique properties of balloons of the invention . in examples 1 - 9 , 11 , and 13 all tubing materials were made from atochem pebax ® 7033 and pebax ® 6333 by extrusion . polymer pellets were dried to less than 0 . 10 wt % moisture content before extrusion . tubing was extruded at melt temperature range of 200 ° c . to 220 ° c . by hot feedthroat through seven extruder zones with controlled temperatures . the extrusion conditions were based upon manufacturer &# 39 ; s recommended polymer processing conditions . after the polymer material extruded out of the die in tube form it passed through a small air gap and was cooled in a deionized water bath maintained at about 65 ° f . a puller was used to pull the tube through the water bath . after passing through the puller , the extruded tubing was cut into 8 inch sections or spooled . a variety of tubing sizes were made by this method . the product of this example is a 2 . 25 mm balloon made from pebax ® 7033 . this polymer has a shore d hardness of 69 , a flexural modulus of 67 , 000 , an ultimate tensile strength of 8 , 300 psi and an ultimate elongation of 400 %. the tubing sections had an od of 0 . 0270 inch and an id of 0 . 0179 inch . in order to form a 2 . 25 mm balloon with a 20 mm body length , a mold having dimensions that allowed the tube to blow out to the appropriate body size and balloon waist inner diameters was used . after the tubing section was securely inside the mold , the mold was placed in a holder . the tubing section extended out the top of the mold and was fed into a touhy clamp through which nitrogen gas applied to the inner lumen of the tubing at 280 psi with tension applied to the tubing . the tubing section at the bottom of the mold was clamped off such that the pressure was maintained inside the tubing section . the mold was then gradually dipped into a deionized hot water bath maintained at 90 ° c . (± 1 ° c .) to a point just above the proximal waist portion of the mold at a controlled manner . a balloon was formed by radial expansion with internal pressure using a hoop ratio of 5 . 1 . after the balloon formed , the mold was removed from the hot water bath and cooled for approximately 10 sec in a deionized water bath maintained at about 10 ° c . balloons prepared in this manner were subjected to standard burst tests by measuring the double wall thickness of the deflated balloon , inflating the balloon at incrementally increasing pressures and measuring the outside diameter at each increment until the balloon burst . burst strength , distension and balloon wall strength were calculated from the data obtained . average results are given in table 1 . the product of this example is a 3 . 00 mm balloon made from pebax ® 7033 . the tubing sections had an od of 0 . 0290 inch and an id of 0 . 0179 inch . a 3 . 00 mm size mold was used to produce the balloons . these 3 . 00 mm balloons were made by the same procedure used in example 1 , except for the water bath temperature and internal blowing pressure . the water bath temperature and the pressure were maintained at 95 ° c . and 300 psi , respectively . the hoop ratio of the balloon was 6 . 2 . the results of testing for burst , distension and wall strength are also listed in table 1 . the product of this example is a 3 . 00 mm balloon made from pebax ® 7033 . the tubing sections had an od of 0 . 0316 inch and an id of 0 . 0179 inch . a corresponding size mold was used to mold balloons . in this example , 90 ° c . water bath and 400 psi internal blowing pressure were used . the test results provided in table 1 . show that these balloons gave a higher burst pressure than the previous examples . the product of this example is a 3 . 00 mm balloon made from pebax ® 7033 . the tubing sections had an od of 0 . 0320 inch and an id of 0 . 0215 inch . a 3 . 00 mm size mold was used to produce the balloons . the same molding conditions described in example 2 were used except that the tubing was prestretched at room temperature before molding balloons . the prestretch stretching ratio λ was 1 . 5 in this example . the test results of this example are listed in table 1 . balloons having 2 . 0 - 3 . 0 mm diameters were prepared from pebax ® 7033 using hoop ratios of 4 . 6 , 5 . 1 and 6 . 7 . the balloons were expanded incrementally at 37 ° c . until they burst . the results , plotted in fig1 show semi - compliant curves with very high burst strengths ranging from 15 - 18 atm and maximum distensions at burst of 24 %- 45 %. in this example , balloons were made from pebax ® 6333 . this polymer has a shore d hardness of 63 , a flexural modulus of 49 , 000 , an ultimate tensile strength of 8 , 100 psi and an ultimate elongation of 300 %. the same balloon forming procedure as in example 1 was used , except as noted below . the product of this example is a 2 . 5 mm balloon . the tubing . sections had an od of 0 . 0316 inch and an id of 0 . 0179 inch . a 2 . 5 mm size mold was used to produce the balloons . in this example , a 95 ° c . water bath and a 300 psi internal blowing pressure were used . the hoop ratio for blowing the balloon was 5 . 5 . the results of burst , distension and wall strength are shown in table 2 . pebax ® 6333 tubing with an od of 0 . 0310 inch and an id of 0 . 0170 inch was used to produce 3 . 0 mm balloon . the water bath temperature was 90 ° c . and the internal blow pressure was 300 psi . the hoop ratio for blowing the balloon was 6 . 9 . ne test results are shown in table 2 . balloons having 2 . 25 - 3 . 0 mm diameters were prepared from pebax ® 6333 using hoop ratios of 4 . 2 , 5 . 5 and 6 . 9 . the balloons were expanded incrementally at 37 ° c . until they burst . the results , plotted in fig2 show semi - compliant and compliant curves with burst strengths of 11 . 5 - 14 atm and distensions at burst of 23 %- 69 %. the products of this example were 3 . 00 mm balloons made from pebax ® 6333 . the tubing sections had an od of 0 . 0350 inch and an id of 0 . 0190 inch . a 3 . 00 mm size mold was used to produce the balloons . portions of the tubing sections were prestretched at a stretching ratio of 2 ( λ = 2 ) before molding the balloons . the prestretched portions were on either side of a central 8 mm unstretched portion protected during the prestretching operation by a clamp . the unstretched central portion was then formed into a 20 mm long , 3 . 0 mm diameter balloon body by expansion under pressure in a mold as in the previous examples . the temperature of the water bath was 95 ° c . and the expansion pressure was 340 psi . the balloons made in this manner had a hoop ratio of 6 . 2 , a single body wall thickness of between 0 . 0006 and 0 . 0007 inches , a distal waist wall thickness of between 0 . 0014 and 0 . 0021 inches a proximal waist wall thickness of between 0 . 0014 and 0 . 0018 inches . tie burst pressure of the balloons was about 270 psi . the balloon distension was semi - compliant . the material used in this example was arnitel em 740 sold by dsm engineering plastics . this polymer had a shore hardness of 74d , a flexural modulus 120 , 000 psi , an ultimate tensile strength of 6 , 400 psi and an ultimate elongation of 340 %. 2 . 25 mm balloons were prepared from tubing of dimensions od 0 . 0270 inches and id = 0 . 0179 inches . the tubing was necked at two ends and the balloon body portion was unstretched , as described in example 9 . the molding temperature was 80 ° c . the molding pressure was 290 psi . the molding tension was 50 grams . balloon properties are given in table 3 . the material used in this example was pebax 7033 . the molding temperature was 950 ° c . the molding pressure was 500 psi . 2 . 00 mm balloons were prepared from tubing segments as set forth below . all tubing segments were stretched at room temperature with different stretching ratios and starting tubing dimensions . the unit of id and od is inches . the properties of the resulting balloons are set forth in table 4 . the material used in this example was arnitel em 740 poly ( butylene terephthalate - block - poly ( tetramethylene oxide ). 2 . 75 mm balloons were prepared from tubing of dimensions : od = 0 . 0390 inches and id = 0 . 0230 inches . the tubing was stretched at room temperature at λ = 4 . 8 . the dimension of stretched tube was : od = 0 . 0250 inches and id = 0 . 0200 inches . the molding temperature was 80 ° c . the molding pressure was 490 psi . the molding tension was 30 grams . the properties of the resulting balloons are set forth in table 5 . pebax 7033 tubes with dimensions 0 . 0198 inch od and 0 . 0339 inch id is drawn at room temperature with a central region protected by an inserted hypo tube approximately 0 . 018 inch in diameter and 1 . 0 inch in length . the tube was drawn until an 8 mm central region remained undrawn . ten sterilized balloons ( 3 . 0 mm in diameter and 20 mm in length ) with an average double wall thickness 0 . 00142 inch are made by radially expanding the 8 mm central tubing portion at 95 ° c . the resulting burst pressure is 270 - 280 psi and the distension is 9 % over the range 88 - 176 psi and 16 % over the range 88 - 235 psi . the material used in this example was pebax 3533 . this polymer has a shore d hardness of 35 and a flexural modulus of 2 , 800 . balloons were made by expanding tubes of id = 0 . 0330 inch and od = 0 . 0480 inch . the molding temperature was 66 ° c . the molding pressure was 80 psi . distension and burst were run at room temperature ( 22 ° c .). balloon properties are set forth in table 6 . the material used in this example was pebax 5533 . this polymer has a shore d hardness of 55 and a flexural modulus of 29 , 000 . 3 . 00 mm balloons were prepared from tubing sections having an id of 0 . 0190 inch and an od of 0 . 0360 inch . the molding temperature was 87 . 5 ° c . the molding pressure was 300 psi . portions of the tubing sections were prestretched at a stretching ratio of 2 ( λ = 2 ) before molding the balloons . the prestretched portions were on either side of an 8 mm central unstretched portion protected during the prestretching operation by a hypo tube as in example 13 . the unstretched central portion was then formed into a 20 mm long , 3 . 0 mm diameter balloon body by expansion under pressure in a mold . balloon properties are set forth in table 7 . the material used in this example was riteflex 640 poly ( butylene terephthalate - block - poly ( tetramethylene oxide ). this polymer has a shore d hardness of 40 and a flexural modulus of 12 , 300 . balloons were made by expanding tubes of id = 0 . 0360 inch and od = 0 . 0430 inch . the molding temperature was 80 ° c . the molding pressure was 80 psi . balloon properties are set forth in table 8 .
balloons for medical devices , particularly balloon angioplasty catheters , are made from particular block copolymer thermoplastic elastomers in which the block copolymer is made up of hard segments of a polyester or polyamide and soft segments of polyether ; the polyester hard segments are polyesters of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a c 2 - c 4 diol ; the polyamide hard segments are polyamides of c 6 or higher carboxylic acids and c 6 or higher organic diamines or of c 6 or higher aliphatic ω - amino - α - acids , and the polyether soft segments are polyethers of c 2 - c 10 , diols ; the block copolymer has a low flexural modulus , namely less than 150 , 000 psi ; the block copolymer has a hardness , shore d scale , of greater than 60 ; and the percentage by weight of the block polymer attributable to the hard segments is between about 50 % and about 95 %. the polymers provide high strength , thin wall , compliant and semi - compliant balloons , which leads to a low profile catheter . the low profile catheters have very good initial crossing , good trackability , good recrossing after first inflation .