Patent ID: 8747416

Claim:
A device for generating shockwaves comprising: an axially extending elongate member; a balloon surrounding a portion of the elongate member, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; a first wire extending along an outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a first inner electrode at a first side location within the balloon; a second wire extending along the outside surface of the elongate member terminating in a second inner electrode located at a second side location radially across the elongate member from the first inner electrode; a cylindrically-shaped insulating sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the insulating sheath disposed around the first and second inner electrodes such that the first aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the first inner electrode and the second aperture of the insulating sheath is located over the second inner electrode; and an outer electrode sheath having a first aperture and a second aperture, the outer electrode sheath disposed around the insulating sheath such that the first aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the first aperture of the insulating sheath and the second aperture of the outer electrode sheath is aligned with the second aperture of the insulating sheath, and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the first and second inner electrodes, a current flows in series from the first inner electrode to the outer electrode sheath to the second inner electrode such that a first shockwave is initiated from the first side location and a second shockwave is initiated from the second side location.