Granted Patent B2

US 12,622,716 · App. 17/449,883 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder (Somers, NY); John R. Ballard (Waconia, MN); Robert D'Agostino (Minneapolis, MN); Michael P. Brenzel (St. Paul, MN); Jason W. Staab (Apple Valley, MN)

Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

A61B17/22022A61B2017/22062A61M25/104

Abstract

Claims (39)

1 . A lithoplasty system for generating voltage pulses, comprising:

an elongate member;

a fluid inflatable balloon surrounding a portion of the elongate member;

a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with an interior of the fluid inflatable balloon;

a plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes disposed within the interior of the fluid inflatable balloon, wherein each pair of spaced-apart electrodes is spaced axially away from an adjacent pair of spaced-apart electrodes;

a voltage pulse generator configured to generate voltage pulses and in operative electrical communication with each pair of the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes; and

a controller in operative communication with the voltage pulse generator and configured to control generation of the voltage pulses, the controller comprising a processor in operative communication with a memory and configured to execute programmed instructions,

wherein the programmed instructions control the voltage pulse generator to cause generated voltage pulses to comprise a pattern of voltage pulses, which cause adjacent pressure waves to be generated by adjacent pairs of spaced-apart electrodes in a fashion whereby adjacent pressure wave interfere with each other resulting in a central node caused by and between the adjacent pressure waves,

wherein the pattern of voltage pulses is applied to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes,

wherein the pattern of voltage pulses cause adjacent pressure waves to be generated by adjacent pairs of spaced-apart electrodes with a predetermined delay between the adjacent pressure waves, and

wherein the central node caused by and between the adjacent pressure waves is proximally or distally shifted along an axial length of the fluid inflatable balloon as compared to when there is no delay between the adjacent pressure waves.

2 . The lithoplasty system of claim 1 , further comprising the programmed instructions configured to initiate the pattern of voltage pulses,

wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of voltage pulses, and

wherein each one of the plurality of voltage pulses is applied to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes in a pattern comprising axial translation of the applied voltage pulses to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes.

3 . The lithoplasty system of claim 2 , wherein the pattern comprises axial translation of the applied voltage pulses to each one of the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes moving in a proximal to a distal direction.

4 . The lithoplasty system of claim 2 , wherein the pattern comprises axial translation of the applied voltage pulses to each one of the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes moving in a distal to a proximal direction.

5 . The lithoplasty system of claim 2 , wherein each one of the applied voltage pulses in the pattern of voltage pulses is configured to generate an electrical arc between at least one of the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes.

6 . The lithoplasty system of claim 5 , wherein the generated electrical arcs comprise a pattern that is responsive to the pattern of voltage pulses.

7 . The lithoplasty system of claim 5 , wherein the generated electric arcs comprise a pattern that includes axial translation of the generated electrical arcs within the fluid inflatable balloon.

8 . The lithoplasty system of claim 5 , wherein the generated electrical arcs comprise a pattern that includes a predetermined delay time between voltage pulses.

9 . The lithoplasty system of claim 8 , wherein the generated electric arcs further comprise a pattern that includes axial translation of the generated electrical arcs through the fluid inflatable balloon.

10 . The lithoplasty system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern of voltage pulses further comprises applying the plurality of voltage pulses to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes in an axially translating pattern.

11 . A lithoplasty system for generating voltage pulses and electrical arcs, comprising:

an elongate member;

a fluid inflatable balloon surrounding a portion of the elongate member;

a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with an interior of the fluid inflatable balloon;

a plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes disposed within the interior of the fluid inflatable balloon, wherein each pair of spaced-apart electrodes is spaced axially away from an adjacent pair of spaced-apart electrodes, at least some of the pairs of spaced apart electrodes comprising two or more radially spaced-apart spark gaps;

a voltage pulse generator configured to generate voltage pulses and in operative electrical communication with each pair of the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes; and

a controller in operative communication with the voltage pulse generator and configured to control generation of the voltage pulses to create a pattern of voltage pulses, the controller comprising a processor in operative communication with a memory and configured to execute programmed instructions,

wherein the pattern of voltage pulses is applied to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes,

wherein the programmed instructions are further configured to apply at least some of the generated voltage pulses to the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes in an axially translating pattern,

wherein each one of the applied voltage pulses is configured to generate an electrical arc between one pair of spaced-electrodes in the plurality of pairs of spaced-apart electrodes,

wherein the generated electrical arcs are further responsive to the pattern of voltage pulses,

wherein the pattern of voltage pulses cause adjacent pressure waves to be generated by adjacent pairs of spaced-apart electrodes, in a fashion whereby adjacent pressure wave interfere with each other resulting in a central node caused by and between the adjacent pressure waves,

wherein at least some of the generated electrical arcs are configured to occur across the radially spaced-apart spark gaps,

wherein at least some of the generated electrical arcs are configured to be generated in an axially translating pattern within the fluid inflatable balloon in accordance with the programmed instructions,

wherein the pattern of voltage pulses cause adjacent pressure waves to be generated by adjacent pairs of spaced-apart electrodes with a predetermined delay between the adjacent pressure waves, and

wherein the central node caused by and between the adjacent pressure waves is proximally or distally shifted along an axial length of the fluid inflatable balloon as compared to when there is no delay between the adjacent pressure waves.

12 . The lithoplasty system of claim 11 , wherein at least some of the generated electrical arcs comprise a radial location that is different than a radial location of at least some of the remaining electrical arcs.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)