EMITTER STATION INCLUDING SINGLE-PIECE STATION HOUSING FOR USE WITHIN AN INTRAVASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY DEVICE
A catheter system configured to use a guidewire lumen, includes an energy source, a first energy guide, and a first emitter station including a first station housing. The energy source generates first energy. The first energy guide receives the first energy from the energy source. The first energy guide has a first guide distal end. The first station housing has (a) a first housing base configured to be secured at least partially about the guidewire lumen, (b) a first guide retainer that extends away from the first housing base, the first guide retainer being configured to selectively receive and retain the first guide distal end of the first energy guide, and (c) a first corresponding plasma target that is spaced apart from the first guide retainer. The first housing base, the first guide retainer, and the first corresponding plasma target are integrally formed with one another.
1 . A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall of a blood vessel, or within or adjacent to a heart valve, within a body of a patient, the catheter system being configured to use a guidewire lumen, the catheter system comprising:
an energy source that generates first energy;
a first energy guide that receives the first energy from the energy source, the first energy guide having a first guide distal end; and
a first emitter station including a first station housing having (a) a first housing base that is configured to be secured at least partially about the guidewire lumen, (b) a first guide retainer that extends away from the first housing base, the first guide retainer being configured to selectively receive and retain the first guide distal end of the first energy guide, and (c) a first corresponding plasma target that is spaced apart from the first guide retainer, the first housing base, the first guide retainer, and the first corresponding plasma target being integrally formed with one another.
2 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the first housing base is at least partially cylinder-shaped and defines an at least partially cylinder-shaped base aperture that extends therethrough; and wherein the guidewire lumen is configured to be positioned at least partially within the base aperture.
3 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the first guide retainer is substantially annular-shaped.
4 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the first guide retainer is formed as a groove that extends radially away from the first housing base.
5 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the first guide distal end of the first energy guide is configured to be secured within the first guide retainer with an adhesive material.
6 . The catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first emitter that is incorporated into the first emitter station, the first emitter including (a) the first guide distal end of the first energy guide that is selectively received and retained within the first guide retainer, and (b) the first corresponding plasma target that is spaced apart from the first guide distal end, the first energy guide being configured to emit the first energy in a direction away from the first guide distal end and toward the first corresponding plasma target so that a plasma is generated at the first corresponding plasma target upon receiving the first energy from the first energy guide.
7 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source further generates second energy; and further comprising a second energy guide that receives the second energy from the energy source, the second energy guide having a second guide distal end.
8 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source further generates second energy; and further comprising a second energy guide that receives the second energy from the energy source, the second energy guide having a second guide distal end; and a second emitter station including a second station housing having (a) a second housing base that is configured to be secured at least partially about the guidewire lumen, (b) a second guide retainer that extends away from the second housing base, the second guide retainer being configured to selectively receive and retain the second guide distal end of the second energy guide, and (c) a second corresponding plasma target that is spaced apart from the second guide retainer, the second housing base, the second guide retainer, and the second corresponding plasma target being integrally formed with one another.
9 . The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a laser and the first energy guide is an optical fiber.
10 . A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall of a blood vessel, or within or adjacent to a heart valve, within a body of a patient, the catheter system comprising:
a plurality of energy guides that each selectively receive at least a portion of the energy from the energy source, each of the plurality of energy guides having a guide distal end;
a first emitter station including a first station housing having (a) a first housing base, (b) a plurality of first guide retainers that extend away from the first housing base, each of the plurality of first guide retainers being configured to selectively receive and retain the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides, and (c) a plurality of first corresponding plasma targets that are each positioned spaced apart from one of the plurality of first guide retainers, the first housing base, the plurality of first guide retainers, and the plurality of first corresponding plasma targets being integrally formed with one another.
11 . The catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the first housing base is at least partially cylinder-shaped and defines an at least partially cylinder-shaped base aperture that extends therethrough; and wherein a guidewire lumen is configured to be positioned at least partially within the base aperture.
12 . The catheter system of claim 10 , wherein the first guide retainer is formed as a groove that extends radially away from the first housing base.
13 . The catheter system of claim, 10 wherein the guide distal end of at least one of the plurality of first energy guides is configured to be secured within one of the plurality of first guide retainers with an adhesive material.
14 . The catheter system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of first emitters that are incorporated into the first emitter station, each of the plurality of first emitters including (a) the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides that is selectively received and retained within one of the plurality of guide retainers, and (b) one of the plurality of corresponding plasma targets that is spaced apart from the guide distal end, each of the plurality of energy guides being configured to emit the at least a portion of the energy from the energy source in a direction away from the guide distal end and toward the corresponding plasma target so that a plasma is generated at the corresponding plasma target upon receiving the at least a portion of the energy from the energy guide.
15 . The catheter system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second emitter station including a second station housing having (a) a second housing base, (b) a plurality of second guide retainers that extend away from the second housing base, each of the plurality of second guide retainers being configured to selectively receive and retain the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides, and (c) a plurality of second corresponding plasma targets that are each positioned spaced apart from one of the plurality of second guide retainers, the second housing base, the plurality of second guide retainers, and the plurality of second corresponding plasma targets being integrally formed with one another.
16 . A catheter, the catheter comprising:
a guidewire lumen;
a plurality of energy guides that each selectively receive at least a portion of the energy from the energy source, each of the plurality of energy guides having a guide distal end;
a first emitter station positioned around the guidewire lumen, the first emitter station including a first station housing having (a) a first housing base, (b) a plurality of first guide retainers that extend away from the first housing base, each of the plurality of first guide retainers being configured to selectively receive and retain the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides, and (c) a plurality of first corresponding plasma targets that are each positioned spaced apart from one of the plurality of first guide retainers, the first housing base, the plurality of first guide retainers, and the plurality of first corresponding plasma targets being integrally formed with one another.
17 . The catheter of claim 16 , wherein the first housing base is at least partially cylinder-shaped and defines an at least partially cylinder-shaped base aperture that extends therethrough, and
wherein the guidewire lumen is configured to be positioned at least partially within the base aperture.
18 . The catheter of claim 16 wherein the guide distal end of at least one of the plurality of first energy guides is configured to be secured within one of the plurality of first guide retainers with an adhesive material.
19 . The catheter of claim 16 , further comprising:
a plurality of first emitters that are incorporated into the first emitter station, each of the plurality of first emitters including (a) the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides that is selectively received and retained within one of the plurality of guide retainers, and (b) one of the plurality of corresponding plasma targets that is spaced apart from the guide distal end, each of the plurality of energy guides being configured to emit the at least a portion of the energy from the energy source in a direction away from the guide distal end and toward the corresponding plasma target so that a plasma is generated at the corresponding plasma target upon receiving the at least a portion of the energy from the energy guide.
20 . The catheter of claim 16 , further comprising:
a second emitter station including a second station housing having (a) a second housing base, (b) a plurality of second guide retainers that extend away from the second housing base, each of the plurality of second guide retainers being configured to selectively receive and retain the guide distal end of one of the plurality of energy guides, and (c) a plurality of second corresponding plasma targets that are each positioned spaced apart from one of the plurality of second guide retainers, the second housing base, the plurality of second guide retainers, and the plurality of second corresponding plasma targets being integrally formed with one another.