Granted Patent B2

US 12,702,433 · App. 18/588,809 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

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

Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

A61B17/225A61B2017/22001A61B2017/22051

Abstract

Claims (33)

1 . A method for delivering pressure waves to a calcified lesion comprising: advancing a catheter to a calcified lesion, wherein the catheter is in operative and electrical communication and connection with a voltage pulse generator, the method comprising:

providing an elongated carrier;

providing an inflatable balloon disposed near a distal end of the elongated carrier, and configured to be inflated with a fluid;

providing a pair of spaced-apart of electrodes operatively associated with the elongated carrier and within the inflatable balloon, wherein a distance between the spaced-apart pair of electrodes comprises a spark gap;

providing a processor operatively connected to the voltage pulse generator and comprising programmed instructions configured to control and operate the voltage pulse generator, the processor in operative communication with a voltage monitor and a current monitor;

actuating the voltage pulse generator to apply at least one voltage pulse with a voltage magnitude to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes to cause current to flow across the spark gap;

monitoring a voltage applied by the voltage pulse generator for each of the at least one voltage pulses; and

determining the voltage magnitude to be applied to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes for a subsequent voltage pulse based on the monitored voltage.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing the programmed instructions of the processor to determine the voltage magnitude to be applied to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes for the subsequent voltage pulse based on the monitored voltage; and

generating the subsequent voltage pulse at the determined voltage magnitude.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising terminating an electrical arc generated across the spark gap on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising terminating an electrical arc generated across the spark gap.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising terminating the voltage applied by the voltage pulse generator.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising terminating the voltage applied by the voltage pulse generator on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a pressure wave that impacts at least part of the calcified lesion at subsonic speed.

8 . A method for delivering pressure waves to a calcified lesion comprising:

advancing a catheter to a calcified lesion, wherein the catheter is in operative and electrical communication and connection with a voltage pulse generator;

providing the catheter with an elongated carrier;

providing the catheter with an inflatable balloon disposed near a distal end of the elongated catheter, and configured to be inflated with a fluid;

providing a pair of spaced-apart of electrodes operatively connected with the elongate carrier and within the inflatable balloon, wherein a distance between the spaced-apart pair of electrodes comprises a spark gap;

providing a processor operatively connected to the voltage pulse generator and comprising programmed instructions configured to control and operate the voltage pulse generator, the processor in operative communication with a voltage monitor and a current monitor;

actuating the voltage pulse generator to apply at least one voltage pulse with a voltage magnitude to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes to cause a current to flow across the spark gap;

monitoring the current flowing between the pair of spaced apart electrodes for each of the at least one voltage pulses; and

determining the voltage magnitude to be applied to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes for a subsequent voltage pulse based on the monitored current.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

executing the programmed instructions of the processor to determine the voltage magnitude to be applied to the pair of spaced-apart electrodes for the subsequent voltage pulse based on the monitored current; and

generating the subsequent voltage pulse at the determined voltage magnitude.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising terminating an electrical arc generated across the spark gap on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising terminating an electrical arc generated across the spark gap.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising terminating a voltage applied by the voltage pulse generator.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising terminating a voltage applied by the voltage pulse generator on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating a pressure wave that impacts at least part of the calcified lesion at subsonic speed.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)