An electrode assembly for a shock wave apparatus. An electrode assembly (30) is disposed inside a balloon (10) of a shock wave apparatus (100). The electrode assembly (30) comprises: a first electrode (301); an insulating layer (302), the first electrode (301) being disposed inside the insulating layer (302) and the tail end of the first electrode (301) being exposed from the tail end of the insulating layer (302); a first electrical conductor (303), the first electrical conductor (303) being disposed on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tail end of the insulating layer (302); and a second electrode (304), the second electrode (304) being disposed on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a base end of the insulating layer (302), such that an insulating gap is provided between the second electrode (304) and the first electrical conductor (303).

The present invention provides methods and devices for treating endovascular disease. Vibrational energy is delivered to change compliance and increase permeability at the treatment area. To improve clinical outcomes, one or more therapeutic drugs may be delivered to the treatment area.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site includes an energy source, a balloon, an energy guide, and a pressure sensor. The balloon is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon has a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid. The energy source generates energy that is received by the energy guide so that the energy guide can guide the light energy into the balloon interior. The pressure sensor senses a balloon pressure of the balloon fluid. A method for disrupting calcification at the treatment site includes the steps of generating energy with an energy source, positioning a balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon interior being configured to receive a balloon fluid, receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide, guiding the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior with the energy guide; and sensing a balloon pressure of the balloon fluid with a pressure sensor.

The present application relates to an assembly for replacing a heart valve or coronary angioplasty assembly, including an insertion sheath (13) of an introducer (1) or a delivery catheter (1′), which is smaller in size than an introducer, intended for being inserted into an artery of a human body. The application involves integrating the metal substrate of an electrode of the cardiac stimulator directly into the sheath for insertion into the artery of a patient.

The invention provides a non-occlusive dilation and deployment catheter device which includes a catheter having a distal end configured for entering a patient and a proximal end for manipulating the device. A distender is provided at or near the distal end which is movable between a collapsed configuration which enables introduction and removal thereof to and from an operative site in a vessel or other hollow organ of a patient, and an expanded configuration in which the distender assumes a radially expanded condition and defines a flow path therethrough. The distender includes a substantially tubular, radially expandable frame having a plurality of spaced apertures and at least one inflatable tube threaded through the apertures and shaped to extend in a spiral when inflated. The distender is movable to the expanded configuration by inflating the tube, and movable to the collapsed configuration from the expanded configuration by deflating the tube.

The present invention relates to an assembly for replacing a heart valve or coronary angioplasty assembly, including an insertion sheath (13) of an introducer (1) or a delivery catheter (1′), which is smaller in size than an introducer, intended for being inserted into an artery of a human body. The invention essentially involves integrating the metal substrate of an electrode of the cardiac stimulator directly into the sheath for insertion into the artery of a patient.

The present invention provides methods and devices for treating endovascular disease. Vibrational energy is delivered to change compliance and increase permeability at the treatment area. To improve clinical outcomes, one or more therapeutic drugs may be delivered to the treatment area.

A valvuloplasty system comprises a balloon adapted to be placed adjacent leaflets of a valve. The balloon is inflatable with a liquid. The system further includes a shock wave generator within the balloon that produces shock waves. The shock waves propagate through the liquid and impinge upon the valve to decalcify and open the valve.

Described here are devices and methods for forming shock waves. The devices may comprise an axially extending elongate member. A first electrode pair may comprise a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode pair may be provided on the elongate member and positioned within a conductive fluid. A controller may be coupled to the first electrode pair. The controller may be configured to deliver a series of individual pulses to the first electrode pair, where each pulse creates a shock wave. The controller may cause current to flow through the electrode pair in a first direction for some of the pulses in the series and in a second direction opposite the first direction for the remaining pulses in the series.

Articulation devices, systems, methods for articulation, and methods for fabricating articulation structures will often include simple balloon arrays, with inflation of the balloons interacting with elongate skeletal support structures so as to locally alter articulation of the skeleton. The skeleton may comprise a simple helical coil or interlocking helical channels, and the array can be used to locally deflect or elongate an axis of the coil under control of a processor. Liquid inflation fluid may be directed so as to pressurize the balloons from an inflation fluid canister, and may vaporize within a plenum or the channels or balloons of the articulation system, with the inflation system preferably including valves controlled by the processor. The articulation structures can be employed in minimally invasive medical catheter systems, and also for industrial robotics, for supporting imaging systems, for entertainment and consumer products, and the like.