Under Pressure: The Hidden Challenges in Medical Balloon Manufacturing
MedTech Unboxed: Presented by Chamfr
Behind every medical balloon is a manufacturing process that is far more complex than most people realize.
In this episode of MedTech Unboxed, Steve talks with Nate Fatkhiyev, Director of Balloon Technology at LightningCath, about why medical balloons are much harder to make than they look.
Building off Nate’s recent presentation at MPP East, their conversation walks through the full balloon manufacturing journey, from extrusion to blow molding to final testing.
Nate shares why material consistency, tube geometry, and process control matter so much in real-world balloon performance. He also breaks down why dimensions like ID, wall thickness, and centricity are so critical, how defects like draw lines, gels, and fish-eyes can show up in finished balloons, and why burst, compliance, and fatigue testing are essential for ensuring safety and consistency.
You'll get a practical look at one of the most overlooked parts of catheter development.
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