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.

A system that breaks calcium in a liquid includes a catheter including first and second electrodes arranged to receive there-across a high electrical voltage at an initial low current. The high electrical voltage causes an electrical arc to form across the electrodes creating a gas bubble within the liquid, a high current to flow through the electrodes, and a mechanical shock wave. A power source provides the electrodes with the high electrical voltage at the initial current and terminates the high electrical voltage in response to the high current flow through the electrodes.

Various embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices are provided for controlled operation of an intravascular lithotripsy system for breaking up calcified lesions in an anatomical conduit. More specifically, control arrangements are disclosed concerning managing and/or providing electrical energy to generate an electrical arc between a set of spaced-apart electrodes disposed within a fluid-filled member configured to contain a conductive fluid.

Various embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices are provided for controlled operation of an intravascular lithotripsy system for breaking up calcified lesions in an anatomical conduit. More specifically, control arrangements are disclosed concerning managing and/or providing electrical energy to generate an electrical arc between a set of spaced-apart electrodes disposed within fluid-fillable member are disclosed.

Various embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices are provided for controlled operation of an intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) system for breaking up calcified lesions in an anatomical conduit. More specifically, control arrangements are disclosed concerning managing and/or providing and/or assessing the electrical energy needed to generate an electrical arc between a set of spaced-apart electrodes disposed within a fluid-fillable member.

A device includes: a sheath; an operating wire disposed inside the sheath; a grasping part that is provided at a distal end of the operating wire and that has one or more wires; and a bipolar electrode disposed at a distal end of the sheath. The sheath has, at intervals in the circumferential direction, escape grooves that extend from the distal end toward a proximal end of the sheath, that penetrate from an inner circumferential surface to an outer circumferential surface thereof, and that have such dimensions as to allow the wires to pass therethrough. The bipolar electrode is disposed at a position shifted radially outward from the central axis and at a position between two of the escape grooves in the circumferential direction. The distal end of the bipolar electrode is positioned closer to distal ends of the escape grooves than to proximal ends of the escape grooves.

This invention related to manufactured microbubbles, as well as methods of using manufactured microbubbles, for example, in medicinal applications. The invention pertains to the physical structure and materials of the microbubbles, as well as to methods for manufacturing microbubbles, methods for targeting microbubbles for specific medicinal applications, and methods for delivering microbubbles in medical treatment.

A translatable shock wave treatment apparatus is suitable for use in treating calcified lesions in vascular structures having small diameters. An elongate member carrying a collapsed angioplasty balloon is first inserted into the occluded blood vessel. The angioplasty balloon is inflated with a conducting fluid to pre-dilate the narrow blood vessel prior to introducing electrodes and applying shock wave therapy. After the blood vessel is at least partially opened, a translatable electrode carrier equipped with one or more shock wave emitters is advanced into the angioplasty balloon. Shock waves are then propagated through the fluid to impart energy to calcified plaques along the vessel walls, thereby softening the calcified lesions. Following the shock wave treatment, multiple inflation and deflation cycles of the angioplasty balloon can be administered to gently compress the softened lesion and complete dilation of the blood vessel.

An electrode balloon catheter and a high-voltage generation processing device are provided. The electrode balloon catheter includes a balloon, an inner catheter and a shock wave generation component. The balloon is disposed over the inner catheter and radially expands or collapses as a result of filling an inflation fluid therein or evacuating the inflation fluid therefrom. The shock wave generation component includes a flexible circuit layer and an electrode arrangement. The flexible circuit layer is disposed on the inner catheter, and the electrode arrangement is provided on the inner catheter to be located within the balloon. The electrode arrangement is connected to the flexible circuit layer and connected to a high-voltage generation processing device via the flexible circuit layer. The flexible circuit layer enables the electrode balloon catheter to have a reduced passage size closer to the size of a pre-dilation balloon.

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.