A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108) or heart valve includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128) and a multiplexer alignment system (142). The first light source (124) generates light energy. The plurality of light guides (122A) are each configured to alternatingly receive light energy from the first light source (124). Each light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). The multiplexer (128) receives the light energy from the first light source (124). The multiplexer (128) alternatingly directs the light energy from the first light source (124) to each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The multiplexer alignment system (142) is operatively coupled to the multiplexer (128). The multiplexer alignment system (142) includes a second light source (270) that generates a probe source beam (270A) that scans the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (208A) or a heart valve within a body (107) of a patient (109) includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a tissue identification system (142). The energy source (124) generates energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) includes a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) can be configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma bubbles (134) are formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The tissue identification system (142) can be configured to acoustically analyze tissue within the treatment site (106).

A method for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a heart valve (108) within a body of a patient includes the steps of generating energy with an energy source (124); receiving energy from the energy source (124) with an energy guide (122A); positioning a balloon assembly (104) adjacent to the treatment site (106), the balloon assembly (104) including an outer balloon (104B) and an inner balloon (104A) that is positioned within and at least partially spaced-apart from the outer balloon (104B) to define an interstitial space (146A) therebetween that is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132); and positioning a portion of the energy guide (122A) that receives the energy from the energy source (124) within the interstitial space (146A) between the balloons (104A, 104B) so that a plasma-induced bubble (134) is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the interstitial space (146A).

A tapered fiber optoacoustic emitter includes a nanosecond laser configured to emit laser pulses and an optic fiber. The optic fiber includes a tip configured to guide the laser pulses. The tip has a coating including a diffusion layer and a thermal expansion layer, wherein the diffusion layer includes epoxy and zinc oxide nanoparticles configured to diffuse the light while restricting localized heating. The thermal expansion layer includes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) configured to convert the laser pulses to generate ultrasound. The frequency of the ultrasound is tuned with a thickness of the diffusion layer and a CNT concentration of the expansion layer.

A catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption includes a balloon coupled to an elongate shaft, and a first and second light guide disposed along the elongate shaft. The first and second light guides each include a diverting feature in optical communication with at least one light window to direct light to exit each light guide toward a side surface portion thereof and toward the balloon. A method includes expanding the balloon from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration, and activating a light source in optical communication with each light guide to provide sub-millisecond pulses of light to the diverting features, thereby inducing plasma formation in a balloon fluid, causing rapid bubble formation, and imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes a light source, a balloon, a light guide and an optical analyzer assembly. The light source generates first light energy. The balloon is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon has a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid. The light guide receives the first light energy and guides the first light energy in a first direction from a guide proximal end toward a guide distal end positioned within the balloon interior. The optical analyzer assembly optically analyzes a second light energy from the light guide that moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The optical analyzer assembly includes a safety shutdown system to inhibit the first light energy from being received by the guide proximal end of the light guide.

A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a vascular lesion. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

Provided herein are noninvasive stimulation methods and apparatus for the treatment of injury to tissues using a novel pulsed laser system that combines the benefits of near-infrared laser light and optoacoustic waves. In certain embodiments, short, high-energy laser light pulses generate low intensity ultrasound waves that travel deep into brain tissues to stimulate neural function and treat neurological dysfunctions. In certain embodiments, a patient interface is provided wherein optoacoustic waves are produced by a plurality of optical absorbers overlying all of a plurality of optical fibers while in other embodiments optoacoustic waves are generated both inside the tissue and outside the tissue via a plurality of optical absorbers overlying some but not all of the optical fibers thus enabling an option of varying proportions of optoacoustic waves generated inside and outside of tissue.

A catheter system for treating site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve includes a light source, a first and second light guide, and an optical alignment system. The light source generates light energy. The first and second light guides receive the light energy from the light source and have respective guide proximal ends. A multiplexer directs the light energy toward the guide proximal ends of the first and second light guides. The optical alignment system determines an alignment of the light energy relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends and adjusts the positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve. In various embodiments, the catheter system (100) includes a balloon (104) and an inflation tube (219, 319). The balloon (104) has a balloon interior (146). The inflation tube (219, 319) is configured to guide a flow of an inflation fluid (132) into the balloon interior (146). The inflation tube (219, 319) has an inflation lumen (319A). The inflation tube (219, 319) is movable between (i) an first configuration (319F) wherein the inflation lumen (319A) has a first cross-sectional area, and (ii) a second configuration (319S) wherein the inflation lumen (319A) has a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area. In various alternative embodiments, the inflation tube (219, 319) can be biased toward the second configuration (319S) or the first configuration (319F). The inflation tube (219, 319) can include a tube wall (319W) that varies in thickness