Patent ID: 9072534
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An angioplasty catheter comprising: an elongated carrier; an angioplasty balloon about the carrier in sealed relation thereto, the balloon being arranged to receive a fluid therein that inflates the balloon wherein the balloon includes a central portion that extends longitudinally along the carrier, said central portion having a constant diameter; and a shock wave generator located within the balloon and aligned with the central portion thereof for generating a plasma arc within the balloon that in turn forms a rapidly expanding and collapsing bubble within the balloon and wherein the expansion of the bubble creates a first shock wave and the collapse of the bubble creates a second shock wave and wherein the bubble is non-spherical and wherein the plasma arc is limited to be shorter than two microseconds whereby the energy in the first shock wave is greater than the energy in the second shock wave.