In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body configured for navigation through vasculature of a patient, the elongated body having an inner wall that defines a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion. The elongated body is configured to pass a fluid through the lumen and out a distal end of the elongated body. At the distal portion, the inner wall defines a convergent-divergent region such that a diameter of the lumen while moving distally within the elongated body converges from a first lumen diameter to a second lumen diameter and then diverges from the second lumen diameter to a third lumen diameter. The convergent-divergent region is configured to cause a fluid flowing through the lumen to cavitate as the fluid flows through the convergent-divergent region.

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body configured for navigation through vasculature of a patient, the elongated body having an inner wall that defines a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion. The elongated body is configured to pass a fluid through the lumen and out a distal end of the elongated body. At the distal portion, the inner wall defines a convergent-divergent region such that a diameter of the lumen while moving distally within the elongated body converges from a first lumen diameter to a second lumen diameter and then diverges from the second lumen diameter to a third lumen diameter. The convergent-divergent region is configured to cause a fluid flowing through the lumen to cavitate as the fluid flows through the convergent-divergent region.

Described herein are systems and methods for implementing a power source for a shock wave catheter system, the power source including two separate voltage sources: a bubble generation voltage source and an arc generation voltage source. In one or more examples, the power source can be configured such that the bubble generation voltage source provides a lower voltage to a pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system. The lower voltage can be configured to induce electrolysis of a fluid that surrounds the pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system for generating and growing a bubble. Once a bubble has formed, the arc generation voltage source can then be engaged to provide a high-voltage electrical pulse to the electrodes of the shock wave catheter system, thereby generating an arc (i.e., spark) across the electrodes.

A safety thrombectomy device, comprising: a handle (1); a hollow outer tube (2); a hollow inner core tube (3) having a first inner core segment located in a through hole in the outer tube (2), a second inner core segment extending from the front end of the outer tube (2), and a third inner core segment extending from the rear end of the outer tube (2); a thrombus crusher (5) provided at the front end of the outer tube (2); a thrombus collector (4) connected to the front end of the second inner core segment of the hollow inner core tube (3) and located in front of the thrombus crusher (5); a tee joint (6) provided at the front end of the handle (1) and having a free end (10) used for injecting normal saline; an adjusting knob (7) provided on the handle (1) and capable of moving with respect to the handle (1) to drive the outer tube (2) to move back and forth; a locking knob (8) provided on the handle (1) and used for locking the adjusting knob (7) after the outer tube (2) moves to a preset position; and an injector (9) provided on the third inner core segment of the hollow inner core tube (3) provided at the rear end of the handle (1) and used for injecting normal saline.

Described herein are systems and methods for implementing a power source for a shock wave catheter system, the power source including two separate voltage sources: a bubble generation voltage source and an arc generation voltage source. In one or more examples, the power source can be configured such that the bubble generation voltage source provides a lower voltage to a pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system. The lower voltage can be configured to induce electrolysis of a fluid that surrounds the pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system for generating and growing a bubble. Once a bubble has formed, the arc generation voltage source can then be engaged to provide a high-voltage electrical pulse to the electrodes of the shock wave catheter system, thereby generating an arc (i.e., spark) across the electrodes.

A catheter for treating a lesion in a body lumen includes an elongate member, an enclosure, and shock wave emitters enclosed by the enclosure. At least one of the shock wave emitters has a different size than at least one of the other emitters. Providing a smaller shock wave emitter at a distal end of the catheter can help make the catheter more navigable through the body lumen.

Described herein are systems and methods for implementing a power source for a shock wave catheter system, the power source including two separate voltage sources: a bubble generation voltage source and an arc generation voltage source. In one or more examples, the power source can be configured such that the bubble generation voltage source provides a lower voltage to a pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system. The lower voltage can be configured to induce electrolysis of a fluid that surrounds the pair of electrodes of the shock wave catheter system for generating and growing a bubble. Once a bubble has formed, the arc generation voltage source can then be engaged to provide a high-voltage electrical pulse to the electrodes of the shock wave catheter system, thereby generating an arc (i.e., spark) across the electrodes.

Described herein are shock wave catheters and methods of use thereof for treating occlusions in a body lumen, the catheter comprising: a catheter enclosure; one or more shock wave emitters enclosed within the catheter enclosure; and an elongated body that extends to at least a distal end of the catheter enclosure, wherein a distal end of the elongated body is configured to vibrate from shock waves produced by the shock wave emitters to deliver mechanical forces to an occlusion in the body lumen.

Some embodiments of a rotational atherectomy and lithotripsy system can partially or completely remove a stenotic lesion in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements to abrade and breakdown the lesion, by emitting acoustic energy to fracture and breakdown the lesion, or a combination of both.

An exemplary catheter for generating shock waves includes a catheter body; an enclosure mounted to the catheter body; an emitter band positioned at least partially around the catheter body and within the enclosure; and at least three electrodes positioned adjacent to the emitter band and spaced apart from the emitter band by respective spark gaps, the at least three electrodes together with the emitter band forming electrode pairs of at least three shock wave emitters of the emitter band, wherein at least one of the at least three shock wave emitters can be driven separately from at least one other of the at least three shock wave emitters.