Electrical analyzer assembly for intravascular lithotripsy device
A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient includes the steps of generating energy with an energy source; 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; receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide; guiding the energy with the energy guide into the balloon interior; monitoring a condition of the balloon with an electrical analyzer assembly while energy is being guided into the balloon interior, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is in fluid communication with blood of the patient, and (iii) an impedance detector that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and detecting an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode with the impedance detector.
1 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the method comprising steps of:
generating energy with an energy source;
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;
receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide;
guiding the energy with the energy guide into the balloon interior;
monitoring a condition of the balloon with an electrical analyzer assembly while energy is being guided into the balloon interior, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is in fluid communication with blood of the patient, and (iii) an impedance detector that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and
detecting an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode with the impedance detector.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring includes analyzing an electrical signal with the electrical analyzer assembly, and determining the condition of the balloon with the electrical analyzer assembly based at least in part on the electrical signal.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring includes analyzing an electrical signal with the electrical analyzer assembly, and determining with the electrical analyzer assembly whether a rupture of the balloon has occurred based at least in part on the electrical signal.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein when a rupture in the balloon has not occurred, the step of monitoring includes steps of positioning the first electrode to be in fluid communication with the balloon fluid in the balloon interior, and positioning the second electrode to be not in fluid communication with the balloon fluid in the balloon interior.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of generating a detector signal with the impedance detector based at least in part on the detected impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.
6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising steps of electrically coupling a system controller to the impedance detector; receiving the detector signal from the impedance detector with the system controller; and determining the condition of the balloon with the system controller based at least in part on the detector signal.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the step of electrically coupling includes electrically coupling the system controller to the impedance detector via a wired connection.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the step of electrically coupling includes electrically coupling the system controller to the acoustic sensor via a wireless connection.
9 . The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of recognizing a normal condition of the balloon with the system controller based at least in part on the detector signal.
10 . The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of recognizing a potential rupture of the balloon with the system controller based at least in part on the detector signal.
11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of automatically shutting down operation of the catheter system with the system controller upon recognition of the potential rupture of the balloon.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the first electrode within the balloon interior.
13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of directing the balloon fluid into the balloon interior via an inflation conduit; and wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the first electrode within an inflation conduit.
14 . The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of guiding positioning of the balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site with a guidewire; and wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the second electrode substantially adjacent to the guidewire.
15 . The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of guiding positioning of the balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site with a guidewire, and moving a guidewire lumen over the guidewire; and wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the second electrode within the guidewire lumen.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating includes the energy source being a laser source that provides pulses of laser energy; and wherein the step of receiving includes the energy guide including an optical fiber.
17 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the method comprising steps of:
generating energy with an energy source;
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;
directing the balloon fluid into the balloon interior through an inflation conduit;
receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide;
guiding the energy with the energy guide into the balloon interior;
monitoring a condition of the balloon with an electrical analyzer assembly while energy is being guided into the balloon interior, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode that is positioned within the inflation conduit, (ii) a second electrode, and (iii) an impedance detector that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and
detecting an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode with the impedance detector.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the second electrode on skin of the patient.
19 . A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or heart valve within a body of a patient, the method comprising steps of:
generating energy with an energy source;
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;
guiding positioning of the balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site with a guidewire;
receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide;
guiding the energy with the energy guide into the balloon interior;
monitoring a condition of the balloon with an electrical analyzer assembly while energy is being guided into the balloon interior, the electrical analyzer assembly including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode that is positioned substantially adjacent to the guidewire, and (iii) an impedance detector that is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and
detecting an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode with the impedance detector.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the step of monitoring includes positioning the first electrode in fluid communication with the balloon fluid.