SHOCK WAVE TREATMENT APPARATUS FOR BLOOD VESSEL TARGETS
A catheter system fits within a blood vessel wall includes first and second shock wave generators that produce shock waves within a balloon between proximal and distal ends of a catheter.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a catheter including a distal end sized to insert into a blood vessel;
a non-perforated balloon coupled to the catheter between the distal end of the catheter and an opposite proximal end of the catheter, and wherein the distal end of the catheter extends beyond a distal end of the balloon;
a liquid inlet within the balloon; and
first and second shock wave generators aligned within the catheter to produce a plurality of spaced apart shock waves within the balloon that propagate outward from the catheter to the blood vessel.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catheter includes radiopaque material that visually identifies the location of the balloon aligned along a length of the catheter.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second shock wave generators include a pair of electrodes.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each pair of electrodes is positioned to generate the shock waves from discharges within the inner construction of the catheter.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are positioned to generate the shock waves from discharges within the inner construction of the catheter.
6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are positioned to generate the shock waves from discharges within the inner construction of the catheter.
7 . That apparatus of claim 1 , wherein all the plurality of spaced apart shock waves are non-focused.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are free of reflectors.
9 . An apparatus comprising:
a catheter including a distal end sized to insert into a blood vessel;
a non-perforated balloon coupled to the catheter between the distal end of the catheter and an opposite proximal end of the catheter, and wherein the distal end of the catheter extends beyond a distal end of the balloon;
a liquid inlet within the balloon;
a first generator and a second generator aligned within an inner construction of the catheter that is within the balloon; and
an electronic controller that electrically produces shock waves at the first generator and second generator.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the catheter includes radiopaque material that visually identifies the location of the balloon aligned along a length of the catheter.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of said first generator and second generator includes a pair of electrodes.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of said first and second generators includes a pair of electrodes.
13 . That apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shock waves are non-focused.
14 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first and second generators are free of reflectors.
15 . An apparatus comprising:
a catheter sized to fit within a blood vessel wall having a proximal end and distal end;
first and second shock wave generators coupled to the catheter within a proximal sealed end of a balloon and a distal sealed end of the balloon, wherein the balloon is coupled to and inflatable around the catheter between the proximal end and distal end of the catheter, and wherein the distal end of the catheter extends beyond the distal sealed end of the balloon;
a liquid inlet into the balloon; and
the first and second shock wave generators aligned along a length of the catheter on a longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the first and second shock wave generators are configured to electrically produce shock waves in the balloon that propagate from the longitudinal axis of the catheter to the blood vessel wall free of intersection by one or both of the first and second shockwave generators.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are positioned to generate the shock waves from discharge within inner construction of the catheter inside of the balloon.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the catheter includes radiopaque material that visually identifies the location of the balloon aligned along said longitudinal length of the catheter.
18 . The apparatus of claim of claim 17 , wherein each of said first shock wave generator and second shock wave generator includes a pair of electrodes.
19 . The apparatus of claim of claim 18 , wherein the shock waves are non-focused.
20 . The apparatus of claim of claim 19 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are free of reflectors.
21 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second shock wave generators are connectable to an electronic controller at the proximal end of the catheter.