SHOCKWAVE BALLOON CATHETER SYSTEM
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for breaking obstructions in body lumens includes a catheter including an elongated carrier, a balloon about the carrier in sealed relation thereto, the balloon being arranged to receive a fluid therein that inflates the balloon, and an arc generator including at least one electrode within the balloon that forms a mechanical shock wave within the balloon. The system further includes a power source that provides electrical energy to the arc generator.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A method comprising:
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providing a catheter including an elongated carrier, a balloon at one end of the carrier in sealed relation thereto, the balloon being arranged to receive a fluid therein that inflates the balloon, and an arc generator including at least one electrode within the balloon that forms a mechanical shock wave within the balloon; inserting the catheter into a body lumen of a patient adjacent to an obstruction of the body lumen; admitting fluid into the balloon; and applying high voltage pulses to the arc generator to form a series of mechanical shocks within the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of breaking calcified plaque in a vessel or artery, comprising:
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providing a dilating balloon; introducing the dilating balloon into the vessel or artery having the calcified plague; inflating the dilating balloon; and generating shockwaves within the dilating balloon.
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27. A method of generating shock waves in a vessel or artery associated with a heart, comprising:
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providing an elongated carrier ham at least one conductive electrode; introducing the carrier into the vessel or artery associated with the heart to dispose the at least one electrode within the vessel or artery; sensing R waves of the heart; and applying electrical pulses to the at least one electrode in synchronism with the sensed R waves.
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Specification