Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-12193691-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system includes a catheter including an elongated carrier, a balloon about the carrier in sealed relation thereto, the balloon being arranged to receive a fluid therein that inflates the balloon, and first and second electrodes within the balloon arranged to carry a voltage there-across including an initial high electrical voltage at an initial low current. The initial high electrical voltage causes an electrical arc to form across the first and second electrodes within the balloon. The electrical arc causes a gas bubble within the liquid, a high current to flow through the first and second electrodes, a decrease in the initial high electrical voltage, and a mechanical shock wave within the balloon. The system further includes a power source that provides the first and second electrodes with a drive voltage that creates the initial high electrical voltage at the initial current and that terminates the drive voltage in response to the decrease in the initial high electrical voltage.
Core Innovation
A catheter delivers shockwaves to a calcified lesion by carrying an electrode pair immersed in a conductive liquid. The electrodes are coupled to a power source that supplies voltage pulses to the electrode pair, and the voltage pulses have sufficient energy to generate an arc in the liquid and to produce a shock wave associated with expansion of a steam bubble.
The power source includes a sensor for monitoring the voltage across the electrode pair during each given voltage pulse. The sensor generates a signal that causes the power source to terminate delivery of the electrical voltage pulse after the sensed voltage decreases by a predetermined value, and termination includes opening a switch to prevent remaining charge on a capacitor from being delivered to the electrode pair.
The predetermined value is selected to control the shock-wave components associated with the steam bubble, including minimizing energy available for a trailing shock wave from subsequent collapse of the steam bubble. Timing compensation is discussed, including delay timer behavior for switch turn-off relative to sensed voltage decrease, and an optional temperature-based reduction is described when conductive fluid temperature near the electrodes increases by more than two degrees Celsius above ambient.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim includes 3 core inventive features centered on arc-based shock-wave delivery with voltage-pulse termination control. Dependent claims add timing compensation, predetermined-value selection for shock-wave component control, compensation for variable dwell time, a specific voltage sensing structure, and temperature-based reduction or termination thresholds.
Arc-producing electrode pair immersed in conductive liquid
An elongated carrier carries a pair of electrodes immersed in a conductive liquid such that voltage pulses generate an arc in the liquid and produce a shock wave associated with expansion of a steam bubble.
Capacitor and switch voltage-pulse delivery
A power source including a capacitor and a switch generates each voltage pulse by closing the switch to deliver stored charge from the capacitor to the electrode pair.
Voltage-sensor controlled pulse termination by predetermined voltage decrease
A sensor monitors the voltage across the electrode pair during each given voltage pulse and terminates delivery after the sensed voltage decreases by a predetermined value, including opening the switch to prevent remaining capacitor charge from being delivered to the electrode pair.
Delay timer termination after voltage threshold
Termination includes using a delay timer after sensing voltage decreases by a predetermined value prior to opening the switch.
Predetermined value selected to ensure arc creation and minimize trailing shock-wave energy
The predetermined value is selected to ensure creation of the arc for each voltage pulse while minimizing energy available for a trailing shock wave from subsequent collapse of the steam bubble.
Compensation for variable dwell time with predetermined voltage threshold
A dwell time between initial delivery of a given voltage pulse and creation of the arc is variable from pulse to pulse, and the predetermined value is selected to compensate for the variable dwell time.
Voltage sensing resistive divider
The sensor for monitoring the voltage across the electrode pair is a voltage sensing resistive divider.
Temperature-based reduction or termination with greater than two degrees Celsius threshold
A temperature sensor decreases or terminates energy applied across the electrode pair when conductive fluid temperature near the electrodes increases by more than two degrees Celsius.
Overall claim coverage centers on arc-generated shock-wave delivery using submerged electrodes driven by capacitor-and-switch voltage pulses, with pulse termination based on sensed electrode-pair voltage decrease to conserve electrode material. Additional features refine termination timing, select the predetermined voltage threshold to manage steam-bubble shock-wave components, compensate for variable dwell time, specify voltage-sensing circuitry, and add temperature-based reduction or termination using an explicit greater than two degrees Celsius criterion.
Stated Advantages
Conserves electrode material by preventing remaining charge on the capacitor from being delivered to the electrode pair.
Limits tissue heating and electrode erosion through temperature-based reduction or termination when fluid temperature increases by more than two degrees Celsius above ambient.
Minimizes energy available for a trailing shock wave from subsequent collapse of the steam bubble.
Documented Applications
Delivering shockwaves to a calcified lesion using a shock-wave catheter system.
Kidney stone treatment using leading-edge shock waves generated by controlling arc energy in a non-balloon electrode treatment embodiment.
Interested in licensing this patent?