a method of sterilizing a medical device component , such as a catheter balloon , in which an electron beam is applied to the component in an evacuated or inert gas - filled container . the method of the invention allows for electron beam sterilization without significant degradation of the component polymeric material . in one embodiment , the device component is configured to be pressurized or expanded during use . the method of the invention provides a component with a rupture pressure that is not significantly decreased due to electron beam sterilization . another aspect of the invention is a medical device component , e - beam sterilized according to a method of the invention . a variety of medical device components can be sterilized by the method of the invention , and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes , such as balloon catheters , catheter shafts and balloons , stent covers , and vascular grafts .