A medical system includes a sheath and an acoustic reflective element that is capable of amplifying acoustic energy. Methods of using a medical system are also provided herein.

Provided are products of manufacture and methods for the removal and/or destruction of a biofilm in situ, e.g., a gastro-luminal biofilm, and for the treatment or amelioration of biofilm-associated diseases, infections and conditions, including and GI luminal infections. Provided are devices and apparatus, and methods for using them, for the removal, disruption and/or destruction of a biofilm in situ, e.g., a gastro-luminal biofilm. In alternative embodiments, provided are devices and apparatus, and methods, for enhancing biofilm dissolving or disrupting agents, or for administering biofilm dissolving or disrupting agents, where in alternative embodiments the biofilm comprises a gastro-luminal ‘unstirred layer’, adherent layer or gastro-luminal mucus layer; or the biofilm comprises a matrix or a DNA-containing layer, or alternatively the biofilm comprises a polysaccharide gastro-luminal peripheral layer.

Systems and methods for treatment using acoustic shock waves within an enclosed negative pressure chamber to fragment or otherwise to modify plaque in a patient's penile shaft.

Disclosed herein are medical systems and methods for ultrasonic decomposition of intraluminal clots. A medical system can include a stylet configured to insert into a lumen of a catheter. The stylet can include one or more electrical impedance sensors, as well as one or more ultrasound transducers or a resonant section of the stylet. The one-or-more impedance sensors can be configured to detect changes in impedance for identifying intraluminal clots in the catheter. The one-or-more ultrasound transducers can be configured for decomposing the intraluminal clots to reestablish patency in the catheter, while the resonant section of the stylet can be configured to resonate with an externally applied ultrasonic frequency for decomposing the intraluminal clots to reestablish patency in the catheter. The medical system can further include a console to which the stylet is connected in an operable state of the medical system.

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.

This invention relates generally to an ultrasound device configured to generate a frustum-shaped beam capable of fragmenting a plurality of biomineralizations located within a patient's body in combination with synthetic cavitation nuclei. The ultrasound device includes a transducer assembly comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, and a multi-channel amplifier circuit. Each channel of the multi-channel amplifier circuit is configured to actuate a distinct subset of the plurality of transducer elements. The multi-channel amplifier circuit is configured to operate in each of a plurality of states, each state of comprising a set of frequencies at which each channel of the multi-channel amplifier circuit is configured to actuate the distinct subset of transducer elements. The multi-channel amplifier circuit is further configured to switch between the plurality of states, thereby causing the plurality of ultrasound transducer elements to produce a frustum-shaped beam.

A device for therapeutic ablative treatment of residual plaque on, in, and/or surrounding a stent within a blood vessel of a subject includes a jacket configured for insertion within a stent within a blood vessel of a subject. The device further includes an ultrasound transducer located within the jacket and having at least one active element oriented to deliver ultrasound energy in a radial and/or axial direction of the jacket from within the stent to ablate the residual plaque.

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 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 include an electronic emitter comprising 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.

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 include an electronic emitter comprising 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.