Patent ID: 9554815
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61M

Claim:
1. A method for applying shock waves to an aortic valve having a first cusp and a second cusp each having a free edge comprising: introducing a shock wave device into a patient's vasculature, the shock wave device comprising a first elongate body, a first balloon sealably enclosing a portion of the first elongate body, a first shock wave source coupled to the first elongate body and enclosed within the first balloon, a second elongate body, a second balloon sealably enclosing a portion of the second elongate body, and a second shock wave source coupled to the second elongate body and enclosed within the second balloon, wherein the first and second balloons are independently inflatable with a liquid; advancing the shock wave device within the vasculature to the aortic valve; inflating the first balloon with a liquid, wherein inflating the first balloon causes the first balloon to be aligned within a concave portion of the first cusp facing the aorta; inflating the second balloon with a liquid, wherein inflating the second balloon causes the second balloon to be aligned within a concave portion of the second cusp facing the aorta and wherein the first and second balloons do not extend beyond the free edges of the first and second cusps respectively to permit blood to flow through the aortic valve; and activating the first shock wave source to apply a shock wave to the first cusp.