LOW PROFILE ELECTRODES FOR AN ANGIOPLASTY SHOCK WAVE CATHETER
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are low-profile electrodes for use with an angioplasty shockwave catheter. A low-profile electrode assembly may have an inner electrode, an insulating layer disposed over the inner electrode such that an opening in the insulating layer is aligned with the inner electrode, and an outer electrode sheath disposed over the insulating layer such that an opening in the outer electrode sheath is coaxially aligned with the opening in the insulating layer. This layered configuration allows for the generation of shockwaves that propagate outward from the side of the catheter. In some variations, the electrode assembly has a second inner electrode, and the insulating layer and outer electrode may each have a second opening that are coaxially aligned with the second inner electrode. An angioplasty shockwave catheter may have a plurality of such low-profile electrode assemblies along its length to break up calcified plaques along a length of a vessel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A device for generating shock waves for cracking calcified lesions comprising:
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an axially extending elongate member; a balloon surrounding a portion of the elongate member, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; a first wire extending along a length of the elongate member, said wire being insulated and having a non-insulated portion defining a first inner electrode; a second wire extending along a length of the elongate member said second wire being insulated and having a non-insulated portion defining a second inner electrode, said second inner electrode being located at a position circumferentially offset from the first inner electrode; and a conductive sheath having first and second apertures formed therein, said sheath being mounted on the elongate member so that the first aperture thereof is aligned with the first inner electrode and the second aperture thereof is aligned with the second inner electrode and arranged such that when said balloon is filled with a conductive fluid and a voltage is applied to the first and second wires, shockwaves will be generated near both the first and second inner electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for generating shock waves for cracking calcified lesions comprising:
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an axially extending elongate member; a balloon surrounding a portion of the elongate member, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; a first wire extending along a length of the elongate member, said wire being insulated and having a non-insulated portion defining a first inner electrode; a second wire extending along the length of the elongate member said second wire being insulated and having a first non-insulated portion defining a second inner electrode, said second inner electrode being located at a position circumferentially offset from the first inner electrode, said second wire having a second non-insulated portion defining a third inner electrode axially spaced from the first inner electrode along the length of the elongate member; a first conductive sheath having first and second apertures formed therein, said sheath being mounted on the elongate member so that the first aperture thereof is aligned with the first inner electrode and the second aperture thereof is aligned with the second inner electrode; a third wire extending along a length of the elongate member, said wire being insulated and having a non-insulating portion defining a fourth inner electrode, said fourth inner electrode being located at a position circumferentially offset from the third inner electrode and substantially at the same axial location as the third inner electrode; and a second conductive sheath having first and second apertures formed therein, said second conductive sheath being mounted on the elongate member so that the first aperture thereof is aligned with the third inner electrode and the second aperture thereof is aligned with the fourth inner electrode and arranged such that when said balloon is filled with a conductive fluid and a voltage is applied to the first and third wires, shockwaves will be generated near each of the first, second, third and fourth inner electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification