A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a balloon integrity protection system (142). The energy source (124) generates pulses of energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive the energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The balloon integrity protection system (142) is operatively coupled to the balloon (104). The balloon integrity protection system (142) is configured to inhibit temperature-induced rupture of the balloon (104) due to the plasma formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146) during use of the catheter system (100).

A thulium fiber laser system can be used to treat tissues based on the ability for quick changes between laser pulses. For example, to treat stones in a tissue, a long pulse having low peak power can be used to create bubbles in front of the stone (calculi), then follow a series of shorter pulses and higher peak power can be used to break the stone. The sequence can be repeated to maintain large bubble formation, with the long pulse characteristics changed to accommodate for the changes in the tissue. A fluorescent sensing assembly can be used to detect the tissue conditions for selecting the conditions of the thulium fiber laser.

A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

A method is described for performing a percutaneous operation on a patient to remove an object from a cavity within the patient. The method includes advancing a first alignment sensor into the cavity through a patient lumen. The first alignment sensor provides its position and orientation in free space in real time. The alignment sensor is manipulated until it is located in proximity to the object. A percutaneous opening is made in the patient with a surgical tool, where the surgical tool includes a second alignment sensor that provides the position and orientation of the surgical tool in free space in real time. The surgical tool is directed towards the object using data provided by both the first and the second alignment sensors.

Some embodiments are directed to a cellulite treatment system that contains a laser generating device. A hydrogel patch may include a region, at a first side of the hydrogel patch, to be in contact with a person's skin. The region may contain an adsorbing medium (e.g., carbon black or any other substance that would have a similar effect) that, when receiving a laser beam from the laser generating device, results in Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (“ESWT”) being applied to the person's skin to treat cellulite.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve includes a light source (124), a first light guide (122A), a second light guide (122A), and an optical alignment system (257). The light source (124) generates light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B). The first light guide (122A) receives the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) from the light source (124). The first light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). The second light guide (122A) receives the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) from the light source (124). The second light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). A multiplexer (223) directs the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) toward the guide proximal end (122P) of the first light guide (122A) and the guide proximal end (122P) of the second light guide (122A). The optical alignment system (257) determines an alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P). The optical alignment system (257) adjusts the positioning of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P) based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P).

Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device may comprise an elongated flexible tube carried by a sheath. The tube may have a fluid input end, which may be located near a proximal end of the sheath. The tube may include a loop portion. The loop portion may be configured to be at least partially accommodated within a cusp of the heart valve. The tube may be fillable with a conductive fluid. In some variations, the shock wave device may include an array of electrode pairs associated with a plurality of wires positioned within the loop portion of a tube. The electrode pairs may be electrically connectable to a voltage source and configured to generate shock waves in the conductive fluid in response to voltage pulses.