In some examples, a medical device includes a flexible elongate member configured for navigation through vasculature of a patient to a target treatment site. A distal portion of the elongate member including a first balloon portion that is inflatable to an expanded state, a second balloon portion that is inflatable to an expanded state, and a cavitation generator. When the balloon portions are in their expanded states within the vasculature, a cavity is defined between the elongate member and the target treatment site and exterior to the first and second balloon portions. The cavitation generator is configured to deliver energy to a fluid within the cavity to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

The present invention relates to a calculus removing device used in medical fields and, more particularly, to a calculus removing device having a calculus crushing probe, which can simultaneously crush and remove a calculus formed inside a human body selectively using a drawing force or electricity through the calculus crushing probe, regardless of the size of the calculus. A calculus removing device according to an aspect of the present invention may comprise: a first tube having an inner space formed therein; a second tube inserted into the inner space of the first tube so as to move inside the inner tube; a capturing means having an end coupled to an end of the second tube such that the capturing means is introduced into the inner space of the first tube in response to a movement of the second tube, thereby capturing and retaining a calculus; a calculus crushing probe inserted into the inner space of the second tube so as to contact the calculus, which is retained by the capturing means, and to apply an electric impact thereto; and a handle coupled to an end of the first tube so as to independently move the second tube and the calculus crushing probe.

A shock wave device to provide treatment within a blood vessel includes a shock wave reflector that directs shock waves laterally to blood vessel walls in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of symmetry of a catheter.

A catheter for treating an occlusion in a body lumen includes an elongate tube; a member sealed to a distal end of the elongate tube that is fillable with a conductive fluid; a cylindrical conductive sheath circumferentially mounted around the elongate tube within the member, the conductive sheath comprising a slot extending along a length of the conductive sheath; and a wire at least partially disposed in the slot, wherein a distal end of the wire is spaced apart from the conductive sheath by a gap in an arrangement such that when a voltage pulse is supplied to the insulated wire current flows across the gap to generate cavitation bubbles and/or shock waves.

Electrohydraulic lithotripters comprising a plurality of electrohydraulic probes are disclosed. Each probe of the plurality of probes comprise a first electrode and a second electrode positioned at a distal end of the probe such that when the probe is discharged, an electric arc between the first electrode and the second electrode produces a shockwave that radiates from the distal end of the probe. A first probe and a second probe of the plurality of probes may be configured to discharge simultaneously or sequentially.

A catheter includes multiple shock wave generators in a balloon between proximal and distal ends of the catheter and electrically controlled by software of a controller to produce shock waves at different discharge point locations for intracorporeal treatment of a blood vessel.

A medical device may include an elongated body, a balloon positioned at a distal portion of the elongated body, and one or more pressure-wave emitters positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the elongated body within the balloon. The one or more pressure-wave emitters may be configured to propagate pressure waves radially outward through the fluid to fragment a calcified lesion at the target treatment site. The at least one of the one or more pressure-wave emitters may comprise an electronic emitter including a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode may be arranged to define a spark gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode may comprise a portion of a hypotube.

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.

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 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.