US Patent Issued to TERUMO on June 3 for "Balloon folding method" (Japanese Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4 -- United States Patent no. 12,318,562, issued on June 3, was assigned to TERUMO K.K. (Tokyo).

"Balloon folding method" was invented by Yasuo Kurosaki (Kanagawa, Japan) and Hiroshi Goto (Kanagawa, Japan).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A folding method of an inflatable balloon disposed on an outer peripheral surface of an inner tube of a balloon catheter is disclosed. The method includes: disposing the balloon to an inner side of a plurality of first blade portions arranged so as to surround a reference position while maintaining a state where pressure is applied to an inside of the balloon; correcting a bend of the balloon by moving the plurality of first blade portions...