A lithotripsy device includes an elongate body comprising a distal tip portion having an end surface that forms a non-zero angle with a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, a balloon circumferentially around a portion of the elongate body enclosing the end surface of the tip portion defining an interior configured to receive a fluid, and at least one emitter positioned at the end surface of the tip portion of the elongate body. The at least one emitter is configured to generate pressure waves in the fluid propagating through the balloon to disintegrate a calcified lesion. A method of using a lithotripsy device is also provided.

A medical device may include an elongated body having a distal elongated body portion and a central longitudinal axis. The medical device may include a balloon positioned along the distal elongated body portion. The balloon may be configured to receive a fluid to inflate the balloon such that an exterior balloon surface contacts a calcified lesion within a patient's vasculature. The medical device may include one or more pressure wave emitters positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The one or more pressure wave emitters may be configured to propagate at least one pressure wave through the fluid to fragment the calcified lesion. At least one pressure wave emitter may include an optical fiber configured to transmit laser energy into the balloon. The laser energy may be configured to create a cavitation bubble in the fluid.

A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source and the fortified balloon inflation fluid. The light source provides sub-millisecond pulses of a light to the first light guide so that plasma formation and rapid bubble formation occur in the fortified balloon inflation fluid, thereby imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128), a multiplexer alignment system (142), and a first beamsplitter (268). The first light source (124) generates a source beam (124A). The multiplexer (128) receives the source beam (124A), and alternatively directs the source beam (124A) 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 is directed to scan across a guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A) so that a time is determined to generate the source beam (124A) so that the source beam (124A) is optically coupled to the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The first beamsplitter (268) receives the source beam (124A) and the probe source beam (270A), and alternately directs the probe source beam (270A) and the source beam (124A) toward the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).

The present disclosure is directed to devices for, and method of, priming the tumor microenvironment with pressure pulses to enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapeutic agents, in a subject in need thereof. Further, increased response of solid tumors locally exposed to stress waves to systemically administered therapeutic agents, is disclosed. The pressure-pulse tumor-priming device comprises: a pulsed laser system (1), a light guide (2) to direct laser pulses to one or more light-to-pressure transducers (3), the one or more light-to-pressure transducers absorbing laser pulses from the pulsed laser system and generating pressure pulses, a tumor-positioning support structure (4) configured to couple one or more light-to-pressure transducers with a solid tumor (5), and a control system (6) to limit the exposure of the solid tumor to the pressure pulses. Anticancer therapeutic agents may be administered before, after or during the priming of solid tumors with pressure pulses.

A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes the steps of (i) generating light energy with a light source; (ii) positioning a balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid; (iii) receiving the light energy from the light source with a light guide at a guide proximal end; (iv) guiding the light energy with the light guide in a first direction from the guide proximal end toward a guide distal end that is positioned within the balloon interior; and (v) optically analyzing with an optical analyzer assembly light energy from the light guide, wherein the light energy that is analyzed moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

An energy director (1055) for a catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or heart valve within a body (107) of a patient (109). The catheter system (100) includes an energy source (124) that generates energy, a balloon (104) having a balloon distal region (1004DR) that has a varying diameter, and a balloon proximal region (1004PR) having a substantially constant diameter, and an energy guide (122A) including a guide distal end (122D), the energy guide (122A) being configured to receive the energy from the energy source (124). The energy director (1055) can include a guide sleeve (1057) that is secured to the energy guide (122), the guide sleeve at least partially (1057) encircling the guide distal end (122D) of the energy guide (122A). The guide sleeve (1057) extends distally from the guide distal end (122D) in a direction toward the balloon distal region (1004DR).

An applicator configured for cell treatment with pressure pulses has a hollow needle with a wall, which encloses a cavity and has a closed-off design at a closed-off end. A target is arranged or formed at the closed-off end on the inner side of the wall and a laser radiation emitter for emitting preferably pulsed laser radiation is arranged in the cavity of the hollow needle, at a distance from the target. The laser radiation emitter is arranged so that the emerging laser radiation impinges directly on the target through an interspace situated between the laser radiation emitter and the target. Under the formation of a plasma, at least one pressure pulse can be generated at the target by the target being impinged upon by laser radiation from the laser radiation emitter. The wall of the hollow needle has a lateral emergence opening for the emergence of the pressure pulse.

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.

Provided is a photoacoustic measurement device including: an ultrasound image generation unit that generates an ultrasound image on the basis of a detection signal of reflected ultrasonic waves generated by the transmission of ultrasonic waves; a puncture needle detection unit that detects a length direction of a puncture needle on the basis of the ultrasound image; and a controller that controls a steering direction of a sample gate which is a Doppler measurement target on the basis of the length direction of the puncture needle such that an angle formed between a straight line extending in the length direction of the puncture needle and a straight line extending in the steering direction of the sample gate satisfies 0<90.