Patent ID: 11877761
Assignee: NEXTERN INNOVATION, LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 7:
8. A method for delivering subsonic pressure waves to a calcified lesion comprising: advancing a balloon catheter to a calcified lesion, wherein the balloon catheter comprises:
an elongated carrier;
a flexible balloon disposed near a distal end of the elongated catheter, wherein a distal end of the angioplasty balloon is sealed against the elongated catheter,
a fluid channel in fluid communication with the interior region of the angioplasty balloon and a conductive fluid reservoir;
a proximal electrode disposed along the elongated carrier and a distal electrode disposed along the elongated carrier and spaced an axial distance from the proximal electrode, the axial distance therebetween comprising a spark gap;
a pulse generator in electrical communication with the proximal electrode and the distal electrode; and
a processor operatively connected to the pulse generator and comprising programmed instructions configured to control and operate the pulse generator, the processor in operative communication with a voltage monitor and a current monitor;
actuating the pulse generator to apply at least one voltage pulse with a voltage magnitude to the proximal electrode or the distal electrode to cause current to flow between the proximal electrode and the distal electrode;
generating a pressure wave within the conductive fluid;
monitoring the voltage applied by the pulse generator for each of the at least one voltage pulses;
monitoring the current flowing between the proximal electrode and the distal electrode for each of the at least one voltage pulses; and
determining the voltage magnitude to be applied for the next voltage pulse based on the monitored voltage and monitored current.