Low profile electrodes for an angioplasty shock wave catheter
First Claim
1. A device for generating shockwaves comprising:
- 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 an outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a first inner electrode at a first side location within the balloon;
a second wire extending along the outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a second inner electrode located at a second side location radially across the elongate member from the first inner electrode;
a cylindrically-shaped insulating sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the insulating sheath disposed around the first and second inner electrodes such that the first aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the first inner electrode and the second aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the second inner electrode; and
an outer electrode sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the outer electrode sheath disposed around the insulating sheath such that the first aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the first aperture of the insulating sheath and the second aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the second aperture of the insulating sheath, and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the first and second inner electrodes, a current flows in series from the first inner electrode to the outer electrode sheath to the second inner electrode such that a first shockwave is initiated from the first side location and a second shockwave is initiated from the second side location.
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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
16 Claims
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1. A device for generating shockwaves 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 an outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a first inner electrode at a first side location within the balloon; a second wire extending along the outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a second inner electrode located at a second side location radially across the elongate member from the first inner electrode; a cylindrically-shaped insulating sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the insulating sheath disposed around the first and second inner electrodes such that the first aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the first inner electrode and the second aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the second inner electrode; and an outer electrode sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the outer electrode sheath disposed around the insulating sheath such that the first aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the first aperture of the insulating sheath and the second aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the second aperture of the insulating sheath, and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the first and second inner electrodes, a current flows in series from the first inner electrode to the outer electrode sheath to the second inner electrode such that a first shockwave is initiated from the first side location and a second shockwave is initiated from the second side location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for generating shockwaves 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 electrode assembly at a first location along the length of the elongate member, the first electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially opposite locations; and a second electrode assembly at a second location along the length of the elongate member, the second electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially opposite locations wherein the second inner electrode of the first electrode assembly and the first inner electrode of the second electrode assembly are connected and wherein when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the first inner electrode of the first electrode assembly and the second inner electrode of the second electrode assembly, a current flows in series from the first inner electrode to the outer electrode to the second inner electrode of the first electrode assembly to the first inner electrode to the outer electrode to the second inner electrode of the second electrode assembly such that a first pair of shockwaves is generated at the two circumferentially opposite locations of the first electrode assembly and a second pair of shockwaves is generated at the two circumferentially opposite locations of the second electrode assembly. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for generating shockwaves 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 electrode assembly at a first location along the length of the elongate member, the first electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two different locations; a second electrode assembly at a second location along the length of the elongate member, the second electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two different locations, wherein said first and second electrode assemblies are connected in series; a third electrode assembly at a third location along the length of the elongate member, the third electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two different locations; a fourth electrode assembly at a fourth location along the length of the elongate member, the fourth electrode assembly having a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two different locations, wherein said third and fourth electrode assemblies are connected in series; and a voltage pulse generator having first and second channels and a return connector, and wherein the first channel is selectively connectable to the first electrode assembly and the second channel is selectively connectable to the third electrode assembly, and the return connector is connected to the second and fourth electrode assemblies and configured to selectively energize one of the first and second serially connected electrode assemblies and the third and fourth serially connected electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification