Patent ID: 8888788

Claim:
A device for generating shockwaves comprising: an axially extending catheter; a balloon surrounding a portion of the catheter, said balloon being fillable with a conductive fluid; an insulating layer wrapped around a portion of the catheter within the balloon, said layer having a first aperture therein; a first inner electrode carried within the catheter and aligned with the first aperture of the insulating layer; an outer electrode mounted on the insulating layer and having a first aperture coaxially aligned with the first aperture in the insulating layer, wherein said insulating layer is an insulating sheath and said outer electrode is in the form of a sheath that is circumferentially mounted around the insulating sheath and wherein the insulating sheath has a second aperture circumferentially offset from the first aperture in the insulating sheath; and a second inner electrode aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath, and wherein the outer electrode sheath has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the second aperture in the insulating sheath and arranged so that when the balloon is filled with the conductive fluid and a voltage is applied across the electrodes, first and second shockwaves will be initiated from two circumferentially offset locations.