The invention provides a system for treating an occlusion within a body lumen. The system may comprise an insulated outer sheath; an elongated conductive tube, wherein the insulated outer sheath is circumferentially mounted around the elongated conductive tube; and an insulated wire having a helically coiled portion at a distal end of the insulated wire. The coiled portion includes an exposed distal tip, and a distal portion of the elongated conductive tube is circumferentially mounted around the distal coiled portion of the insulated wire. When a voltage is applied across the insulated wire and the elongated conductive tube, a current is configured to flow from the exposed distal tip of the insulated wire to the elongated conductive tube to generate a plurality of cavitation bubbles. In an alternate embodiment, an elongated central electrode is used in place of the conductive tube.

A lithotripter is provided for fragmenting a stone inside a patient's body. In one form, the lithotripter includes a motor having at least two modes of operation and is configured to produce first and second waveforms. A wave guide shaft is configured to transmit the first and second waveforms to the stone. In one form, at least one of the first and second waveforms is provided to the stone at a frequency that is about equal to a natural frequency of the stone. In a variation, the lithotripter may include an ultrasonic driver configured to produce an ultrasonic frequency waveform and a sonic driver configured to produce a sonic frequency waveform. The sonic driver is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic driver. The ultrasonic driver and the sonic driver may be disposed within a driver housing. In another variation, the lithotripter may include a brushless DC motor.

A lithotripsy device can comprise a handpiece, a lithotripsy probe extending from the handpiece, an energization source configured to deliver an energy to a distal end of the lithotripsy probe, a suction passage extending from the distal end of the probe and through the handpiece, and a capture device comprising a container comprising a storage space, an entry port configured to couple to the handpiece at the suction passage, and an exit port, and a capture element connected to the container and configured to facilitate capture of stone fragments within the storage space. A method can comprise fragmenting stones with a lithotripsy device, drawing a vacuum through the lithotripsy device to pull stone fragments and waste fluid therethrough, pulling the vacuum through a stone capture device connected to the lithotripsy device, depositing stone fragments within the stone capture device using a capture element, and drawing the vacuum through the device.

The disclosure relates to a lithotripsy device comprising an elongate probe, which can be inserted into a body interior of a human or animal body, and a drive arrangement for deflecting the probe, which is arranged at a proximal portion of the probe, the drive arrangement comprising an ultrasonic converter unit for exciting ultrasonic vibrations in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the probe, and the drive arrangement having a deflection device for exerting a time-varying force onto the probe in a direction transversely to the longitudinal extension of the probe. The disclosure also relates to a lithotripsy system and to a method for operating a lithotripsy device.

A system to deliver energy to treat a mobile calculus, the system can include a drill and a lateral energy emitter. The drill can be configured to drill a recess into the mobile calculus or a passage through the mobile calculus. The lateral energy emitter can be configured to be advanced into the recess or the passage and to transmit the energy internal to the mobile calculus to fragment the mobile calculus. In some examples, the system can include a deployable capture portion to constrain a stone relative to the capture portion.

An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure using ultrasonic energy includes a catheter comprising a wave guide including an expandable portion for delivering the ultrasonic energy from a source for performing the endovascular procedure. The expandable portion may comprise a plurality of wires formed of a shape memory material. A retractable sheath may be provided for receiving the plurality of wires in the non-deployed position and for being withdrawn to expose the wires in the deployed position. A linear actuator for moving the plurality of wires in a longitudinal direction or a rotary actuator for rotating the plurality of wires may also be provided.

A medical drill assembly includes a probe connectable at a proximal end to an electromechanical transducer for generating mechanical vibration of an ultrasonic frequency. The probe has a shaft with a central lumen or channel, the shaft being formed at a distal end with a head having a tapered distal side. A source of pressurized liquid communicates with the lumen or channel of the probe, and a translatory or linear drive is operatively connected to the probe for applying a distally directed force to the probe. A controller is operatively connected to the translatory or linear drive for periodically at least reducing the magnitude of the distally directed force.

A dual frequency ultrasonic and sonic actuator with constrained impact mass is presented. According to one aspect, displacement of the impact mass is constrained by cavity to which ultrasonic stress from the tip of a horn is applied. According to another aspect, the displacement of the impact mass is constrained by a spring attached to the tip of the horn. According to another aspect, the displacement of the impact mass is constrained by a flexure. The constrained impact mass converts the ultrasonic stress to lower frequency sonic stress that is coupled to a transmitting element for transmission through a surface. According to one aspect, the transmitting element is a longitudinal probe. According to another aspect, the transmitting element is a drill bit used to penetrate though the surface. According to another aspect, the transmitting element is a thumper used to transmit elastic waves though the surface.

During shock wave therapy, a determination is made that a kidney stone has begun to fracture, and then a progress of its fragmentation is assessed. This determination can reduce the number of shock waves used to disintegrate kidney stones, and thereby reduce dose-dependent tissue damage. The identification of fracture is possible through the detection and analysis of resonant acoustic scattering, which is the radiation caused by reverberations within a stone particle that is struck by a shock wave. The scattering frequency can provide both an indication that the kidney stone has fragmented, and an indication of the relative sizes of the fragments. Related concepts employ displacement measurements of kidney stones/fragments to provide both an indication that the kidney stone has fragmented, and an indication of the relative sizes of the fragments. Such techniques can be combined with vibro-acoustography based gating that better targets the stone.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer assembly to selectively generate ultrasonic motion, a motor within the housing, an outer sheath coupled to the housing, and a blade operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and rotatably supported within the outer sheath for rotation with the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is rotatably supported within the housing. The motor is configured to selectively apply a rotary motion to the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The outer sheath comprises a distal tip portion defining a tip cavity. The blade includes a tissue-cutting distal end rotatably supported within the tip cavity. A portion of the tissue-cutting distal end is configured to apply the ultrasonic motion to tissue.