Low profile electrodes for an angioplasty shock wave catheter
First Claim
1. A device for generating shockwaves comprising:
- an axially extending catheter;
a balloon surrounding a portion of the catheter, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid;
an insulating layer wrapped around a portion of the catheter within the balloon, said layer having a first aperture therein;
a first inner electrode carried within the catheter and aligned with the first aperture of the insulating layer;
an outer electrode mounted on the insulating layer and having a first aperture coaxially aligned with the first aperture in the insulating layer, wherein said insulating layer is an insulating sheath and said outer electrode is in the form of a sheath that is circumferentially mounted around the insulating sheath and wherein the insulating sheath has a second aperture circumferentially offset from the first aperture in the insulating sheath; and
a second inner electrode aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath, and wherein the outer electrode sheath has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the electrodes, first and second shockwaves will be initiated from two circumferentially offset locations.
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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. A device for generating shockwaves comprising:
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an axially extending catheter; a balloon surrounding a portion of the catheter, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; an insulating layer wrapped around a portion of the catheter within the balloon, said layer having a first aperture therein; a first inner electrode carried within the catheter and aligned with the first aperture of the insulating layer; an outer electrode mounted on the insulating layer and having a first aperture coaxially aligned with the first aperture in the insulating layer, wherein said insulating layer is an insulating sheath and said outer electrode is in the form of a sheath that is circumferentially mounted around the insulating sheath and wherein the insulating sheath has a second aperture circumferentially offset from the first aperture in the insulating sheath; and a second inner electrode aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath, and wherein the outer electrode sheath has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the electrodes, first and second shockwaves will be initiated from two circumferentially offset locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for generating shockwaves comprising:
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an axially extending catheter; a balloon surrounding a portion of the catheter, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; a first inner electrode mounted on a side of the catheter; an insulating layer having an aperture disposed over the first inner electrode such that the aperture is coaxially aligned with the first inner electrode; an outer electrode having an aperture disposed over the insulating layer such that the outer electrode aperture is coaxially aligned with the insulating layer aperture; and a second inner electrode mounted on a side of the catheter at a location that is circumferentially offset from the first inner electrode, and wherein the insulating layer has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the second inner electrode and the outer electrode has a second aperture that is coaxially aligned with the second aperture of the insulating layer so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the electrodes, first and second shockwaves will be initiated from two circumferentially offset locations. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for generating shockwaves comprising:
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an axially extending catheter having a length; a balloon surrounding a portion of the catheter, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; a first electrode assembly at a first location within the balloon along the length of the catheter, the first electrode assembly comprising a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially spaced apart locations; a second electrode assembly at a second location within the balloon along the length of the catheter, the second electrode assembly comprising a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially spaced apart locations; a third electrode assembly at a third location within the balloon along the length of the catheter, the third electrode assembly comprising a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially spaced apart locations; a fourth electrode assembly at a fourth location within the balloon along the length of the catheter, the fourth electrode assembly comprising a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially spaced apart locations; a fifth electrode assembly at a fifth location within the balloon along the length of the catheter, the fifth electrode assembly comprising a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, and an outer electrode and configured to initiate shockwaves at two circumferentially spaced apart locations, each of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth electrode assemblies further including an insulating sheath located between the associated inner electrodes and the outer electrode; and a voltage pulse generator comprising a plurality of channels, wherein the channels of the voltage pulse generator are connected to one or more of the electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification