IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,239,332
Granted Patent B2
US 12,239,332 · App. 18/435,508 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Catheter with multiple shock wave generators

Inventors: Iulian Cioanta (Milton, GA); Christopher Cashman (Duluth, GA)
Assignee: SanuWave, Inc.
A61B17/22012A61B17/22004A61B17/2202A61B17/22022A61B17/22029A61B17/225A61B18/245A61B18/26A61H9/0057A61H23/008G10K11/28A61B2017/00867A61B17/22A61B2017/22014A61B2017/22024A61B2017/22025A61B2017/22039A61B2017/22051A61B2017/22054A61B2017/22067A61B2017/22079A61B2017/22082A61B2017/22084A61B2017/2212A61B2017/2253A61B17/2255A61H2201/14A61H2201/1664A61N2007/0008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,239,332
App. No.
18/435,508
Filed
Feb 7, 2024
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
WU, TONG E
Art Unit
3796
USPC
601/4
Abstract

A catheter includes multiple shock wave generators in a balloon between proximal and distal ends of the catheter and electrically controlled by software of a controller to produce shock waves at different discharge point locations for intracorporeal treatment of a blood vessel.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus including a catheter sized for insertion in a blood vessel comprising:

a plurality of shock wave generators coupled to and between proximal and distal ends of the catheter at different discharge point locations along the catheter, wherein each shock wave generator is configured to generate shock waves at its respective discharge location;

a balloon enclosing the plurality of shock wave generators; and

an electronic controller operably coupled to the plurality of shock wave generators, wherein the controller includes software programmed to fire the plurality of shock wave generators to produce shock waves initiating from each of the different discharge point locations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shock wave generators are configured to produce shock waves that propagate perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the catheter toward a wall of the blood vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the shock wave generators of the plurality of shock wave generators are positioned adjacent to a shock wave reflector.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the catheter further includes a plurality of radio-opaque markers along the catheter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the catheter further includes a radio-opaque tip at a distal end of the catheter configured for insertion in the blood vessel.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the catheter further includes a radio-opaque tip at a distal end of the catheter configured for insertion in the blood vessel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the shock wave generators of the plurality of shock wave generators are positioned adjacent to a shock wave reflector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further includes a plurality of radio-opaque markers along the catheter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the catheter further includes a radio-opaque tip at the distal end of the catheter configured for insertion in the blood vessel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further includes a radio-opaque tip at a distal end of the catheter configured for insertion in the blood vessel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the balloon includes a fluid having a contrast agent.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a first shock wave generator and second shock wave generator are offset by and angle of 180°.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an inlet lumen coupled to the catheter and configured to supply fluid into the balloon and an outlet lumen coupled to the catheter and configured to remove fluid from inside the balloon.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the fluid includes saline solution.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators is offset around circumference of the catheter from a second shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a first shock wave generator and second shock wave generator are consecutively aligned along the catheter.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the shock wave generators is configured to produce one of unfocused, focused, radial and planar shock waves.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller includes software programmed to fire the plurality of shock wave generators at least one of sequentially and in a non-simultaneous predetermined pattern.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a first shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators is offset around the catheter from a second shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators by an angle selected from 90°, 120° and 180°.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators is offset around the catheter from a second shock wave generator of the plurality of shock wave generators by an angle selected from 90°, 1200 and 180°.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2025
From: SANUWAVE, INC.
To: VASCULAR WAVE LLC
Reel/Frame 072125/0296 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2025
From: CIOANTA, IULIAN; CASHMAN, CHRISTOPHER M.
To: SANUWAVE, INC.
Reel/Frame 070132/0763 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18221303 · Jul 12, 2023
Continuation 17188812 · Mar 1, 2021
Division 16860544 · Apr 28, 2020
Division 14874650 · Oct 5, 2015
Continuation 14272155 · May 7, 2014
Division 14036461 · Sep 25, 2013
Division 12832932 · Jul 8, 2010
Provisional Application 61223919 · Jul 8, 2009
Related Publication 20240252191A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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