An apparatus and method for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The
balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having
an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy,
which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then be directed toward the
mold, to heat the polymeric material without heating the mold. Once
heated, pressurized fluid may be injected into the tube to blow the
polymeric material against the interior cavity whereupon the material can
cool to form the balloon or can be further heatset by additional
microwave energy and be cooled to form the balloon. In accordance with
one embodiment, microwave energy can also be used without a mold to form
a medical device. A polymer extrusion apparatus is disclosed utilizing a
microwave energy for heating polymer feedstock material within the
extruder tip and die unit just prior to formation of the extrudate
product. A cooling bath mechanism, which in one embodiment can also
include a cooling tube member having a cooling medium forced
therethrough, is also disclosed. An apparatus for preparing polymer disk
members, to use as the polymer feedstock material for the microwave
extrusion apparatus, is also disclosed. Apparatus for interconnecting and
rotating the polymer disk members, the die tip, or the die, or any
combination thereof, for creating angularity characteristics in the
polymer extrudate, is also disclosed.