Vascular lesions within vessels in the body can be associated with an increased risk for major adverse events, such as myocardial infarction, embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and the like. Severe vascular lesions, such as severely calcified vascular lesions, can be difficult to treat and achieve patency for a physician in a clinical setting.
Vascular lesions may be treated using interventions such as drug therapy, balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, stent placement, vascular graft bypass, to name a few. Such interventions may not always be ideal or may require subsequent treatment to address the lesion.
Intravascular lithotripsy is one method that has been recently used with some success for breaking up vascular lesions within vessels in the body. Intravascular lithotripsy utilizes a combination of pressure waves and bubble dynamics that are generated intravascularly in a fluid-filled balloon catheter. In particular, during an intravascular lithotripsy treatment, a high energy source is used to generate plasma and ultimately pressure waves as well as a rapid bubble expansion within a fluid-filled balloon to crack calcification at a lesion site within the vasculature. The associated rapid bubble formation from the plasma initiation and resulting localized fluid velocity within the balloon transfers mechanical energy through the incompressible fluid to impart a fracture force on the intravascular calcium, which is opposed to the balloon wall. The rapid change in fluid momentum upon hitting the balloon wall is known as hydraulic shock, or water hammer.
It is desired to provide more complete plasma formation and bubble formation throughout the balloon interior of the balloon such that a more uniform pressure wave can be applied to the balloon wall in all radial directions, and thus to the vascular lesion at the treatment site. Moreover, it is appreciated that it is an advantage to generate the plasma as far away from the balloon wall as possible to reduce the probability of device malfunctions, such as balloon rupture caused by the high-temperature plasma melting the balloon wall.
There is an ongoing desire to enhance vessel patency and optimization of therapy delivery parameters within an intravascular lithotripsy catheter system.
The present invention is directed toward a catheter system for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall. The catheter system can be used for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to the vessel wall within a body of a patient. In various embodiments, the catheter system includes an energy source, a balloon, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The balloon includes a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior. The balloon is configured to retain a balloon fluid within the balloon interior. The balloon is selectively inflatable with the balloon fluid to expand to an inflated state, wherein when the balloon is in the inflated state the balloon wall is configured to be positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon further includes a balloon central axis that extends through a geometric center of the balloon when the balloon is in the inflated state. The energy guide selectively receives energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is positioned on the balloon central axis when the balloon is in the inflated state.
In various embodiments, the balloon is asymmetrical. For example, in such embodiments, the balloon can further include a balloon proximal end, an opposed balloon distal end, and a balloon end axis that extends through the balloon proximal end and the balloon distal end when the balloon is in the inflated state. Additionally, the balloon end axis can be offset from the balloon central axis. In various embodiments, the balloon end axis is spaced apart from and parallel to the balloon central axis.
In certain embodiments, the catheter system further includes a guidewire lumen that extends through the balloon proximal end and the balloon distal end. The guidewire lumen is positioned offset from the balloon central axis. In various embodiments, the guidewire lumen is positioned substantially along the balloon end axis.
In some embodiments, the catheter system further includes a catheter shaft, wherein the balloon is coupled to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft can include a longitudinal axis. In various embodiments, the longitudinal axis is substantially coaxial with the balloon end axis.
In various embodiments, the energy guide receives the energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior to generate plasma in the balloon fluid within the balloon interior. In various embodiments, the plasma generation causes rapid bubble formation and impart pressure waves upon the balloon wall adjacent to the treatment site.
In various embodiments, the energy guide can include an optical fiber and/or the energy source is a laser source that provides pulses of laser energy.
The present invention is also directed toward a catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient, the catheter system including an energy source that generates energy; an asymmetrical balloon including a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon being configured to retain a balloon fluid within the balloon interior, the balloon being selectively inflatable with the balloon fluid to expand to an inflated state, wherein when the balloon is in the inflated state the balloon wall is configured to be positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon further including (i) a balloon proximal end, (ii) an opposed balloon distal end, (iii) a balloon end axis that extends through the balloon proximal end and the balloon distal end when the balloon is in the inflated state, (iv) a balloon central axis that extends through a geometric center of the balloon when the balloon is in the inflated state, the balloon central axis being spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the balloon end axis, and (v) a balloon radius, the balloon central axis being spaced apart from the balloon end axis by an axis spacing distance of at least approximately five percent of the balloon radius; and an energy guide that selectively receives energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior.
The present invention is also directed toward a catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient, the catheter system including an energy source that generates energy; an asymmetrical balloon including a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior, the balloon being configured to retain a balloon fluid within the balloon interior, the balloon being selectively inflatable with the balloon fluid to expand to an inflated state, wherein when the balloon is in the inflated state the balloon wall is configured to be positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon further including (i) a balloon proximal end, (ii) an opposed balloon distal end, (iii) a balloon end axis that extends through the balloon proximal end and the balloon distal end when the balloon is in the inflated state, and (iv) a balloon central axis that extends through a geometric center of the balloon when the balloon is in the inflated state, the balloon central axis being spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the balloon end axis; a guidewire lumen that extends at least between the balloon proximal end and the balloon distal end, the guidewire lumen being positioned substantially along the balloon end axis and offset from the balloon central axis; a catheter shaft including a longitudinal axis that is substantially coaxial with the balloon end axis, the balloon being coupled to the catheter shaft; and an energy guide that selectively receives energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior to generate plasma in the balloon fluid within the balloon interior, the plasma generation causing rapid bubble formation and imparting pressure waves upon the balloon wall adjacent to the treatment site, the energy guide including a guide distal end that is positioned on the balloon central axis when the balloon is in the inflated state.
This summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and is not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details are found in the detailed description and appended claims. Other aspects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, each of which is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope herein is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
While embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example and drawings, and are described in detail herein. It is understood, however, that the scope herein is not limited to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope herein.
Treatment of vascular lesions can reduce major adverse events or death in affected subjects. As referred to herein, a major adverse event is one that can occur anywhere within the body due to the presence of a vascular lesion. Major adverse events can include, but are not limited to, major adverse cardiac events, major adverse events in the peripheral or central vasculature, major adverse events in the brain, major adverse events in the musculature, or major adverse events in any of the internal organs.
The catheter systems and related methods disclosed herein are configured to impart pressure waves to induce fractures in a treatment site, such as a calcified vascular lesion or a fibrous vascular lesion, within or adjacent a blood vessel wall. In particular, the catheter systems can include a catheter configured to advance to the treatment site located within or adjacent a blood vessel within a body of a patient. The catheter includes a catheter shaft, and an inflatable balloon that is coupled and/or secured to the catheter shaft. The balloons can include a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior. The balloons can be configured to receive a balloon fluid within the balloon interior to expand from a deflated state suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature, to an inflated state suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to the treatment site.
Additionally, in various embodiments, the catheter systems and related methods utilize an energy source, i.e. a light source such as a laser source or another suitable energy source, which provides energy that is guided by one or more energy guides, e.g., light guides such as optical fibers, which are disposed along the catheter shaft and within the balloon interior of the balloon to create a localized plasma in the balloon fluid that is retained within the balloon interior of the balloon. As such, the energy guide can sometimes be referred to as, or can be said to incorporate a “plasma generator” at or near a guide distal end of the energy guide that is positioned within the balloon interior of the balloon located at the treatment site. The creation of the localized plasma can initiate a pressure wave and can initiate the rapid formation of one or more bubbles that can rapidly expand to a maximum size and then dissipate through a cavitation event that can launch a pressure wave upon collapse. The rapid expansion of the plasma-induced bubbles can generate one or more pressure waves within the balloon fluid retained within the balloon interior of the balloon and thereby impart pressure waves onto and induce fractures in the treatment site at the treatment site within or adjacent to the blood vessel wall within the body of the patient. In some embodiments, the energy source can be configured to provide sub-millisecond pulses of energy, e.g., light energy, to initiate the plasma formation in the balloon fluid within the balloon to cause the rapid bubble formation and to impart the pressure waves upon the balloon wall at the treatment site. Thus, the pressure waves can transfer mechanical energy through an incompressible balloon fluid to the treatment site to impart a fracture force on the intravascular lesion. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the rapid change in balloon fluid momentum upon the balloon wall that is in contact with the intravascular lesion is transferred to the intravascular lesion to induce fractures to the lesion.
As used herein, the terms “intravascular lesion” and “vascular lesion” are used interchangeably unless otherwise noted. As such, the intravascular lesions and/or the vascular lesions are sometimes referred to herein simply as “lesions”.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar nomenclature and/or reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts.
In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It is appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application-related and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it is recognized that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
It is also appreciated that the catheter systems disclosed herein can include many different forms. Referring now to
The catheter 102 is configured to move to a treatment site 106 within or adjacent to a vessel wall 108A of a blood vessel 108 within a body 107 of a patient 109. The treatment site 106 can include one or more vascular lesions 106A such as calcified vascular lesions, for example. Additionally, or in the alternative, the treatment site 106 can include vascular lesions 106A such as fibrous vascular lesions.
The catheter 102 can include an inflatable balloon 104 (sometimes referred to herein simply as a “balloon”), a catheter shaft 110 and a guidewire 112. The balloon 104 can be coupled to the catheter shaft 110. The balloon 104 can include a balloon proximal end 104P and a balloon distal end 104D. The catheter shaft 110 can extend from a proximal portion 114 of the catheter system 100 to a distal portion 116 of the catheter system 100. The catheter shaft 110 can include a longitudinal axis 144. The catheter shaft 110 can also include a guidewire lumen 118 which is configured to move over the guidewire 112. As utilized herein, the guidewire lumen 118 defines a conduit through which the guidewire 112 extends. The catheter shaft 110 can further include an inflation lumen (not shown) and/or various other lumens for various other purposes. In some embodiments, the catheter 102 can have a distal end opening 120 and can accommodate and be tracked over the guidewire 112 as the catheter 102 is moved and positioned at or near the treatment site 106.
The balloon 104 includes a balloon wall 130 that defines a balloon interior 146. The balloon 104 can be selectively inflated with a balloon fluid 132 to expand from a deflated state suitable for advancing the catheter 102 through a patient's vasculature, to an inflated state (as shown in
The balloon 104 suitable for use in the catheter system 100 includes those that can be passed through the vasculature of a patient when in the deflated state. In some embodiments, the balloons 104 are made from silicone. In other embodiments, the balloon 104 can be made from materials such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyurethane, polymers such as PEBAX™ material, nylon, or any other suitable material.
The balloon 104 can have any suitable diameter (in the inflated state). In various embodiments, the balloon 104 can have a diameter (in the inflated state) ranging from less than one millimeter (mm) up to 25 mm. In some embodiments, the balloon 104 can have a diameter (in the inflated state) ranging from at least 1.5 mm up to 14 mm. In some embodiments, the balloon 104 can have a diameter (in the inflated state) ranging from at least two mm up to five mm.
In some embodiments, the balloon 104 can have a length ranging from at least three mm to 300 mm. More particularly, in some embodiments, the balloon 104 can have a length ranging from at least eight mm to 200 mm. It is appreciated that a balloon 104 having a relatively longer length can be positioned adjacent to larger treatment sites 106, and, thus, may be usable for imparting pressure waves onto and inducing fractures in larger vascular lesions 106A or multiple vascular lesions 106A at precise locations within the treatment site 106. It is further appreciated that a longer balloon 104 can also be positioned adjacent to multiple treatment sites 106 at any one given time.
The balloon 104 can be inflated to inflation pressures of between approximately one atmosphere (atm) and 70 atm. In some embodiments, the balloon 104 can be inflated to inflation pressures of from at least 20 atm to 60 atm. In other embodiments, the balloon 104 can be inflated to inflation pressures of from at least six atm to 20 atm. In still other embodiments, the balloon 104 can be inflated to inflation pressures of from at least three atm to 20 atm. In yet other embodiments, the balloon 104 can be inflated to inflation pressures of from at least two atm to ten atm.
The balloon 104 can have various shapes, including, but not to be limited to, a conical shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a spherical shape, a conical/square shape, a conical/spherical shape, an extended spherical shape, an oval shape, a tapered shape, a bone shape, a stepped diameter shape, an offset shape, or a conical offset shape. In some embodiments, the balloon 104 can include a drug eluting coating or a drug eluting stent structure. The drug eluting coating or drug eluting stent can include one or more therapeutic agents including anti-inflammatory agents, anti-neoplastic agents, anti-angiogenic agents, and the like.
As described in greater detail below, the balloon 104 can include a balloon central axis 260 (illustrated in
In various embodiments, at least the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A can be positioned on or near the balloon central axis 260 (in the inflated state) by offsetting the guidewire lumen 118 from the balloon central axis 260. In various embodiments, offsetting the guidewire lumen 118 from the balloon central axis 260 is achieved by deliberately forming an asymmetric balloon shape, where the balloon ends 104P, 104D define a balloon end axis 262 (illustrated in
The balloon fluid 132 can be a liquid or a gas. Some examples of the balloon fluid 132 suitable for use can include, but are not limited to one or more of water, saline, contrast medium, fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, gases, such as carbon dioxide, or any other suitable balloon fluid 132. In some embodiments, the balloon fluid 132 can be used as a base inflation fluid. In some embodiments, the balloon fluid 132 can include a mixture of saline to contrast medium in a volume ratio of approximately 50:50. In other embodiments, the balloon fluid 132 include a mixture of saline to contrast medium in a volume ratio of approximately 25:75. In still other embodiments, the balloon fluid 132 include a mixture of saline to contrast medium in a volume ratio of approximately 75:25. However, it is understood that any suitable ratio of saline to contrast medium can be used. The balloon fluid 132 can be tailored on the basis of composition, viscosity, and the like so that the rate of travel of the pressure waves are appropriately manipulated. In certain embodiments, the balloon fluids 132 suitable for use are biocompatible. A volume of balloon fluid 132 can be tailored by the chosen energy source 124 and the type of balloon fluid 132 used.
In some embodiments, the contrast agents used in the contrast media can include, but are not to be limited to, iodine-based contrast agents, such as ionic or non-ionic iodine-based contrast agents. Some non-limiting examples of ionic iodine-based contrast agents include diatrizoate, metrizoate, iothalamate, and ioxaglate. Some non-limiting examples of non-ionic iodine-based contrast agents include iopamidol, iohexol, ioxilan, iopromide, iodixanol, and ioversol. In other embodiments, non-iodine based contrast agents can be used. Suitable non-iodine containing contrast agents can include gadolinium (III)-based contrast agents. Suitable fluorocarbon and perfluorocarbon agents can include, but are not to be limited to, agents such as the perfluorocarbon dodecafluoropentane (DDFP, C5F12).
The balloon fluids 132 can include those that include absorptive agents that can selectively absorb light in the ultraviolet region (e.g., at least ten nanometers (nm) to 400 nm), the visible region (e.g., at least 400 nm to 780 nm), or the near-infrared region (e.g., at least 780 nm to 2.5 μm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. Suitable absorptive agents can include those with absorption maxima along the spectrum from at least ten nm to 2.5 μm. Alternatively, the balloon fluids 132 can include those that include absorptive agents that can selectively absorb light in the mid-infrared region (e.g., at least 2.5 μm to 15 μm), or the far-infrared region (e.g., at least 15 μm to one mm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. In various embodiments, the absorptive agent can be those that have an absorption maximum matched with the emission maximum of the laser used in the catheter system 100. By way of non-limiting examples, various lasers uable in the catheter system 100 can include neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG−emission maximum=1064 nm) lasers, holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG−emission maximum=2.1 μm) lasers, or erbium:YAG (Er:YAG−emission maximum=2.94 μm) lasers. In some embodiments, the absorptive agents can be water soluble. In other embodiments, the absorptive agents are not water soluble. In some embodiments, the absorptive agents used in the balloon fluids 132 can be tailored to match the peak emission of the energy source 124. Various energy sources 124 having emission wavelengths of at least ten nanometers to one millimeter are discussed elsewhere herein.
The catheter shaft 110 of the catheter 102 can be coupled to the one or more energy guides 122A of the energy guide bundle 122 that are in optical communication with the energy source 124. The energy guide(s) 122A can be disposed along the catheter shaft 110 and within the balloon 104. In some embodiments, each energy guide 122A can be an optical fiber and the energy source 124 can be a laser. The energy source 124 can be in optical communication with the energy guides 122A at the proximal portion 114 of the catheter system 100.
In some embodiments, the catheter shaft 110 can be coupled to multiple energy guides 122A such as a first energy guide, a second energy guide, a third energy guide, etc., which can be disposed at any suitable positions about the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110. For example, in certain non-exclusive embodiments, two energy guides 122A can be spaced apart by approximately 180 degrees about the circumference of the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110; three energy guides 122A can be spaced apart by approximately 120 degrees about the circumference of the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110; or four energy guides 122A can be spaced apart by approximately 90 degrees about the circumference of the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110. Still alternatively, multiple energy guides 122A need not be uniformly spaced apart from one another about the circumference of the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110. More particularly, it is further appreciated that the energy guides 122A can be disposed uniformly or non-uniformly about the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110 to achieve the desired effect in the desired locations.
It is appreciated that the catheter system 100 and/or the energy guide bundle 122 can include any number of energy guides 122A in optical communication with the energy source 124 at the proximal portion 114, and with the balloon fluid 132 within the balloon interior 146 of the balloon 104 at the distal portion 116. For example, in some embodiments, the catheter system 100 and/or the energy guide bundle 122 can include from one energy guide 122A to greater than 30 energy guides 122A. However, regardless of the total number of energy guides 122A, at least the guide distal end 122D of one of the energy guides 122A is positioned on the balloon central axis 260 during use of the catheter system 100.
It is appreciated that the energy guides 122A can have any suitable design for purposes of generating plasma and/or pressure waves in the balloon fluid 132 within the balloon interior 146. Thus, the general description of the energy guides 122A as light guides is not intended to be limiting in any manner, except for as set forth in the claims appended hereto. More particularly, it is appreciated that although the catheter systems 100 illustrated herein are often described with the energy source 124 as a light source and the one or more energy guides 122A as light guides, the catheter system 100 can alternatively include any suitable energy source 124 and energy guides 122A for purposes of generating the desired plasma in the balloon fluid 132 within the balloon interior 146. For example, in one non-exclusive alternative embodiment, the energy source 124 can be configured to provide high voltage pulses, and each energy guide 122A can include an electrode pair including spaced apart electrodes that extend into the balloon interior 146. In such embodiment, each pulse of high voltage is applied to the electrodes and forms an electrical arc across the electrodes, which, in turn, generates the plasma and forms the pressure waves within the balloon fluid 132 that are utilized to provide the fracture force onto the vascular lesions 106A at the treatment site 106. Still alternatively, the energy source 124 and/or the energy guides 122A can have another suitable design and/or configuration.
In certain embodiments, the energy guides 122A can include an optical fiber or flexible light pipe. The energy guides 122A can be thin and flexible and can allow light signals to be sent with very little loss of strength. The energy guides 122A can include a core surrounded by a cladding about its circumference. In some embodiments, the core can be a cylindrical core or a partially cylindrical core. The core and cladding of the energy guides 122A can be formed from one or more materials, including but not limited to one or more types of glass, silica, or one or more polymers. The energy guides 122A may also include a protective coating, such as a polymer. It is appreciated that the index of refraction of the core will be greater than the index of refraction of the cladding.
Each energy guide 122A can guide energy along its length from a guide proximal end 122P to the guide distal end 122D having at least one optical window (not shown) that is positioned within the balloon interior 146.
The energy guides 122A can assume many configurations about and/or relative to the catheter shaft 110 of the catheter 102. In some embodiments, the energy guides 122A can run parallel to the longitudinal axis 144 of the catheter shaft 110. In some embodiments, the energy guides 122A can be physically coupled to the catheter shaft 110. In other embodiments, the energy guides 122A can be disposed along a length of an outer diameter of the catheter shaft 110. In yet other embodiments, the energy guides 122A can be disposed within one or more energy guide lumens within the catheter shaft 110.
It is further appreciated that the energy guides 122A can be disposed at any suitable positions about the circumference of the guidewire lumen 118 and/or the catheter shaft 110, and the guide distal end 122D of each of the energy guides 122A can be disposed at any suitable longitudinal position relative to the length of the balloon 104 and/or relative to the length of the guidewire lumen 118.
In certain embodiments, the energy guides 122A can include one or more photoacoustic transducers 154, where each photoacoustic transducer 154 can be in optical communication with the energy guide 122A within which it is disposed. In some embodiments, the photoacoustic transducers 154 can be in optical communication with the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A. Additionally, in such embodiments, the photoacoustic transducers 154 can have a shape that corresponds with and/or conforms to the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A.
The photoacoustic transducer 154 is configured to convert light energy into an acoustic wave at or near the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A. It is appreciated that the direction of the acoustic wave can be tailored by changing an angle of the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A.
It is further appreciated that the photoacoustic transducers 154 disposed at the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A can assume the same shape as the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A. For example, in certain non-exclusive embodiments, the photoacoustic transducer 154 and/or the guide distal end 122D can have a conical shape, a convex shape, a concave shape, a bulbous shape, a square shape, a stepped shape, a half-circle shape, an ovoid shape, and the like. It is also appreciated that the energy guide 122A can further include additional photoacoustic transducers 154 disposed along one or more side surfaces of the length of the energy guide 122A.
The energy guides 122A can further include one or more diverting features or “diverters” (not shown in
Examples of the diverting features suitable for use include a reflecting element, a refracting element, and a fiber diffuser. The diverting features suitable for focusing energy away from the tip of the energy guides 122A can include, but are not to be limited to, those having a convex surface, a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, and a mirror focus lens. Upon contact with the diverting feature, the energy is diverted within the energy guide 122A to one or more of a plasma generator 133 and the photoacoustic transducer 154 that is in optical communication with a side surface of the energy guide 122A. The photoacoustic transducer 154 then converts light energy into an acoustic wave that extends away from the side surface of the energy guide 122A.
The source manifold 136 can be positioned at or near the proximal portion 114 of the catheter system 100. The source manifold 136 can include one or more proximal end openings that can receive the one or more energy guides 122A of the energy guide bundle 122, the guidewire 112, and/or an inflation conduit 140 that is coupled in fluid communication with the fluid pump 138. The catheter system 100 can also include the fluid pump 138 that is configured to inflate the balloon 104 with the balloon fluid 132, i.e. via the inflation conduit 140, as needed.
As noted above, in the embodiment illustrated in
As shown, the system console 123, and the components included therewith, is operatively coupled to the catheter 102, the energy guide bundle 122, and the remainder of the catheter system 100. For example, in some embodiments, as illustrated in
The energy guide bundle 122 can also include a guide bundler 152 (or “shell”) that brings each of the individual energy guides 122A closer together so that the energy guides 122A and/or the energy guide bundle 122 can be in a more compact form as it extends with the catheter 102 into the blood vessel 108 during use of the catheter system 100.
The energy source 124 can be selectively and/or alternatively coupled in optical communication with each of the energy guides 122A, i.e. to the guide proximal end 122P of each of the energy guides 122A, in the energy guide bundle 122. In particular, the energy source 124 is configured to generate energy in the form of a source beam 124A, such as a pulsed source beam, that can be selectively and/or alternatively directed to and received by each of the energy guides 122A in the energy guide bundle 122 as an individual guide beam 124B. Alternatively, the catheter system 100 can include more than one energy source 124. For example, in one non-exclusive alternative embodiment, the catheter system 100 can include a separate energy source 124 for each of the energy guides 122A in the energy guide bundle 122.
The energy source 124 can have any suitable design. In certain embodiments, the energy source 124 can be configured to provide sub-millisecond pulses of energy from the energy source 124 that are focused onto a small spot in order to couple it into the guide proximal end 122P of the energy guide 122A. Such pulses of energy are then directed and/or guided along the energy guides 122A to a location within the balloon interior 146 of the balloon 104, thereby inducing plasma formation in the balloon fluid 132 within the balloon interior 146 of the balloon 104, e.g., via the plasma generator 133 that can be located at the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A. In particular, the energy emitted at the guide distal end 122D of the energy guide 122A energizes the plasma generator 133 to form the plasma within the balloon fluid 132 within the balloon interior 146. The plasma formation causes rapid bubble formation, and imparts pressure waves upon the treatment site 106. An exemplary plasma-induced bubble 134 is illustrated in
In various non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the sub-millisecond pulses of energy from the energy source 124 can be delivered to the treatment site 106 at a frequency of between approximately one hertz (Hz) and 5000 Hz, approximately 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, approximately ten Hz and 100 Hz, or approximately one Hz and 30 Hz. Alternatively, the sub-millisecond pulses of energy can be delivered to the treatment site 106 at a frequency that can be greater than 5000 Hz or less than one Hz, or any other suitable range of frequencies.
It is appreciated that although the energy source 124 is typically utilized to provide pulses of energy, the energy source 124 can still be described as providing a single source beam 124A, i.e. a single pulsed source beam.
The energy sources 124 suitable for use can include various types of light sources including lasers and lamps. Alternatively, the energy sources 124 can include any suitable type of energy source.
Suitable lasers can include short pulse lasers on the sub-millisecond timescale. In some embodiments, the energy source 124 can include lasers on the nanosecond (ns) timescale. The lasers can also include short pulse lasers on the picosecond (ps), femtosecond (fs), and microsecond (us) timescales. It is appreciated that there are many combinations of laser wavelengths, pulse widths and energy levels that can be employed to achieve plasma in the balloon fluid 132 of the catheter 102. In various non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the pulse widths can include those falling within a range including from at least ten ns to 3000 ns, at least 20 ns to 100 ns, or at least one ns to 500 ns. Alternatively, any other suitable pulse width range can be used.
Exemplary nanosecond lasers can include those within the UV to IR spectrum, spanning wavelengths of about ten nanometers (nm) to one millimeter (mm). In some embodiments, the energy sources 124 suitable for use in the catheter systems 100 can include those capable of producing light at wavelengths of from at least 750 nm to 2000 nm. In other embodiments, the energy sources 124 can include those capable of producing light at wavelengths of from at least 700 nm to 3000 nm. In still other embodiments, the energy sources 124 can include those capable of producing light at wavelengths of from at least 100 nm to ten micrometers (μm). Nanosecond lasers can include those having repetition rates of up to 200 kHz. In some embodiments, the laser can include a Q-switched thulium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Tm:YAG) laser. In other embodiments, the laser can include a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser, erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser, excimer laser, helium-neon laser, carbon dioxide laser, as well as doped, pulsed, fiber lasers.
The catheter system 100 can generate pressure waves having maximum pressures in the range of at least one megapascal (MPa) to 100 MPa. The maximum pressure generated by a particular catheter system 100 will depend on the energy source 124, the absorbing material, the bubble expansion, the propagation medium, the balloon material, and other factors. In various non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the catheter systems 100 can generate pressure waves having maximum pressures in the range of at least approximately two MPa to 50 MPa, at least approximately two MPa to 30 MPa, or approximately at least 15 MPa to 25 MPa.
The pressure waves can be imparted upon the treatment site 106 from a distance within a range from at least approximately 0.1 millimeters (mm) to greater than approximately 25 mm extending radially from the energy guides 122A when the catheter 102 is placed at the treatment site 106. In various non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the pressure waves can be imparted upon the treatment site 106 from a distance within a range from at least approximately ten mm to 20 mm, at least approximately one mm to ten mm, at least approximately 1.5 mm to four mm, or at least approximately 0.1 mm to ten mm extending radially from the energy guides 122A when the catheter 102 is placed at the treatment site 106. In other embodiments, the pressure waves can be imparted upon the treatment site 106 from another suitable distance that is different than the foregoing ranges. In some embodiments, the pressure waves can be imparted upon the treatment site 106 within a range of at least approximately two MPa to 30 MPa at a distance from at least approximately 0.1 mm to ten mm. In some embodiments, the pressure waves can be imparted upon the treatment site 106 from a range of at least approximately two MPa to 25 MPa at a distance from at least approximately 0.1 mm to ten mm. Still alternatively, other suitable pressure ranges and distances can be used.
The power source 125 is electrically coupled to and is configured to provide necessary power to each of the energy source 124, the system controller 126, the GUI 127, and the handle assembly 128. The power source 125 can have any suitable design for such purposes.
The system controller 126 is electrically coupled to and receives power from the power source 125. Additionally, the system controller 126 is coupled to and is configured to control operation of each of the energy source 124 and the GUI 127. The system controller 126 can include one or more processors or circuits for purposes of controlling the operation of at least the energy source 124 and the GUI 127. For example, the system controller 126 can control the energy source 124 for generating pulses of energy as desired and/or at any desired firing rate.
The system controller 126 can further be configured to control operation of other components of the catheter system 100 such as the positioning of the catheter 102 adjacent to the treatment site 106, the inflation of the balloon 104 with the balloon fluid 132, etc. Further, or in the alternative, the catheter system 100 can include one or more additional controllers that can be positioned in any suitable manner for purposes of controlling the various operations of the catheter system 100. For example, in certain embodiments, an additional controller and/or a portion of the system controller 126 can be positioned and/or incorporated within the handle assembly 128.
The GUI 127 is accessible by the user or operator of the catheter system 100. Additionally, the GUI 127 is electrically connected to the system controller 126. With such design, the GUI 127 can be used by the user or operator to ensure that the catheter system 100 is effectively utilized to impart pressure onto and induce fractures into the vascular lesions 106A at the treatment site 106. The GUI 127 can provide the user or operator with information that can be used before, during and after use of the catheter system 100. In one embodiment, the GUI 127 can provide static visual data and/or information to the user or operator. In addition, or in the alternative, the GUI 127 can provide dynamic visual data and/or information to the user or operator, such as video data or any other data that changes over time during use of the catheter system 100. In various embodiments, the GUI 127 can include one or more colors, different sizes, varying brightness, etc., that may act as alerts to the user or operator. Additionally, or in the alternative, the GUI 127 can provide audio data or information to the user or operator. It is appreciated that the specifics of the GUI 127 can vary depending upon the design requirements of the catheter system 100, or the specific needs, specifications and/or desires of the user or operator.
As shown in
The handle assembly 128 is handled and used by the user or operator to operate, position and control the catheter 102. The design and specific features of the handle assembly 128 can vary to suit the design requirements of the catheter system 100. In the embodiment illustrated in
Similar to previous embodiments, the balloon 204 is selectively movable or inflatable between a deflated state suitable for advancing the catheter 202 through a patient's vasculature, and an inflated state (such as shown in
In some embodiments, the balloon end axis 262 can be substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis 144 (illustrated in
The balloon 204 has a balloon radius 204R, which is measured from the geometric center 204C of the balloon 204 directly (i.e. the shortest distance) to the balloon wall 230. In designing the asymmetric shape of the balloon 204, in various embodiments, it is desired that the balloon end axis 262 be spaced apart from the balloon central axis 260 by at least a certain axis spacing distance 264 (also referred to simply as a “spacing distance”) measured relative to the balloon radius 204R. For example, in certain non-exclusive embodiments, the balloon end axis 262 is spaced apart from the balloon central axis 260 by the spacing distance 264 of between at least approximately one percent (1%) and less than approximately ninety percent (90%) of the balloon radius 204R. In various non-exclusive alternative embodiments, the balloon end axis 262 can be spaced apart from the balloon central axis 260 by the spacing distance 264 of at least approximately 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 7%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or 85% of the balloon radius 204R. By way of a specific non-limiting example, if the balloon radius 204R of the balloon 204 is five millimeters (balloon diameter is ten millimeters), providing a spacing distance 264 between the balloon end axis 262 and the balloon central axis 260 of 5% of the balloon radius 204R, would result in the spacing distance 264 between the balloon end axis 262 and the balloon central axis 260 being 5 mm×0.05=0.25 millimeters (or 250 μm). As illustrated in
The balloon catheter 202, e.g., a laser-driven intravascular lithotripsy balloon catheter, includes one or more energy guides 222A that deliver pulsed energy from an energy source 124 (illustrated in
One way to place the guide distal end 222D on or near the inflated balloon central axis 260 is to offset the guidewire lumen 218 from the balloon central axis 260 of the inflated balloon 204. In various embodiments, moving the guidewire lumen 218 off the balloon central axis 260 can be achieved by forming the asymmetric balloon shape, where the balloon ends 204P, 204D define the balloon end axis 262 that is different than the balloon central axis 260 of the inflated balloon 204, as shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
It is appreciated that the energy guide 222A need not be positioned substantially directly adjacent to and/or abutting the guidewire lumen 218, and/or be secured to the guidewire lumen 218. However, it is desired that at least the guide distal end 222D of the energy guide 222A be positioned on the balloon central axis 260. For example, in one non-exclusive alternative embodiment, the energy guide 222A can be positioned spaced apart from the guidewire lumen 218, while at least a portion of the energy guide 222A including the guide distal end 222D is still being positioned on the balloon central axis 260.
As illustrated in
The energy guide 222A can guide energy from the energy source 124 along its length to the guide distal end 222D. The energy guide 222A can have at least one guide window (not shown) that is positioned along a length of the energy guide 222A within the balloon interior 246 of the balloon 204.
In certain embodiments, the energy guide 222A can include one or more photoacoustic transducers 254, where each photoacoustic transducer 254 can be in optical communication with the energy guide 222A within which it is disposed. In some embodiments, the photoacoustic transducers 254 can be in optical communication with the guide distal end 222D of the energy guide 222A. The photoacoustic transducer 254 is configured to convert light energy into an acoustic wave at or near the guide distal end 222D of the energy guide 222A. The direction of the acoustic wave can be tailored by changing an angle of the guide distal end 222D of the energy guide 222A.
The energy guide 222A can also include one or more diverting features or “diverters” (not shown in
In embodiments that include two or more energy guides, at least a portion of one of the energy guides 322A, including the guide distal end 322D, is positioned on the balloon central axis 260, as illustrated in
It is appreciated that the energy guides 322A, 322B can be disposed uniformly or non-uniformly about the guidewire lumen 318 and/or the catheter shaft to achieve the desired effect in the desired locations. It is further recognized that the energy from the energy source 124 (illustrated in
It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content and/or context clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content or context clearly dictates otherwise.
It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the phrase “configured” describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration. The phrase “configured” can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as arranged and configured, constructed and arranged, constructed, manufactured and arranged, and the like.
The headings used herein are provided for consistency with suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not be viewed to limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. As an example, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Summary” or “Abstract” to be considered as a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims.
The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices. As such, aspects have been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope herein.
It is understood that although a number of different embodiments of the catheter system have been illustrated and described herein, one or more features of any one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of one or more of the other embodiments, provided that such combination satisfies the intent of the present invention.
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments of the catheter system have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope, and no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown.
This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/928,628, filed on Oct. 31, 2019. As far as permitted, the contents of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/928,628 are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4649924 | Taccardi | Mar 1987 | A |
4699147 | Chilson et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
4799479 | Spears | Jan 1989 | A |
4913142 | Kittrell et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4955895 | Suglyama | Sep 1990 | A |
4960108 | Reichel et al. | Oct 1990 | A |
4994059 | Kosa et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5034010 | Kittrell et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5041121 | Wondrazek et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5104391 | Ingle | Apr 1992 | A |
5116227 | Levy | May 1992 | A |
5152768 | Bhatta | Oct 1992 | A |
5173049 | Levy | Dec 1992 | A |
5181921 | Makita et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5290277 | Vercimak et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5372138 | Crowley | Dec 1994 | A |
5454809 | Janssen | Oct 1995 | A |
5540679 | Fram | Jul 1996 | A |
5598494 | Behrmann et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5609606 | O'Boyle | Mar 1997 | A |
5611807 | O'Boyle | Mar 1997 | A |
5697377 | Wittkampf | Dec 1997 | A |
5718241 | Ben-Haim et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5772609 | Nguyen et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5891135 | Jackson et al. | Apr 1999 | A |
5906611 | Dodick et al. | May 1999 | A |
5944697 | Benett et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
6080119 | Schwarze et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6123923 | Unger | Sep 2000 | A |
6139510 | Palermo | Oct 2000 | A |
6186963 | Schwarze et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6203537 | Adrian | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6210404 | Shadduck | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6339470 | Papademetriou et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6368318 | Visuri et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6500174 | Maguire et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6514203 | Bukshpan | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6524251 | Rabiner et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6538739 | Visuri et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6607502 | Maguire et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6652547 | Rabiner et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6666834 | Restle et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6773447 | Laguna | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6849994 | White et al. | Feb 2005 | B1 |
6947785 | Beatty et al. | Sep 2005 | B1 |
6978168 | Beatty et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
6990370 | Beatty et al. | Jan 2006 | B1 |
7309324 | Hayes et al. | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7470240 | Schultheiss et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7569032 | Naimark et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7599588 | Eberle et al. | Oct 2009 | B2 |
7758572 | Weber et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7810395 | Zhou | Oct 2010 | B2 |
7850685 | Kunis et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7867178 | Simnacher | Jan 2011 | B2 |
7985189 | Ogden et al. | Jul 2011 | B1 |
8162859 | Schultheiss et al. | Apr 2012 | B2 |
8166825 | Zhou | May 2012 | B2 |
8364235 | Kordis et al. | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8556813 | Cashman et al. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8574247 | Adams et al. | Nov 2013 | B2 |
8709075 | Adams et al. | Apr 2014 | B2 |
8728091 | Hakala et al. | May 2014 | B2 |
8747416 | Hakala et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8888788 | Hakala et al. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
8956371 | Hawkins et al. | Feb 2015 | B2 |
8956374 | Hawkins et al. | Feb 2015 | B2 |
8992817 | Stamberg | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9005216 | Hakala et al. | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9011462 | Adams et al. | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9011463 | Adams et al. | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9044618 | Hawkins et al. | Jun 2015 | B2 |
9044619 | Hawkins et al. | Jun 2015 | B2 |
9072534 | Adams et al. | Jul 2015 | B2 |
9131949 | Coleman et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
9138249 | Adams et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
9138260 | Miller et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
9180280 | Hawkins et al. | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9220521 | Hawkins et al. | Dec 2015 | B2 |
9237984 | Hawkins et al. | Jan 2016 | B2 |
9289132 | Ghaffari et al. | Mar 2016 | B2 |
9289224 | Adams et al. | Mar 2016 | B2 |
9320530 | Grace | Apr 2016 | B2 |
9333000 | Hakala et al. | May 2016 | B2 |
9375223 | Wallace | Jun 2016 | B2 |
9421025 | Hawkins et al. | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9433428 | Hakala et al. | Sep 2016 | B2 |
9510887 | Burnett | Dec 2016 | B2 |
9522012 | Adams | Dec 2016 | B2 |
9554815 | Adams et al. | Jan 2017 | B2 |
9555267 | Ein-gal | Jan 2017 | B2 |
9566209 | Katragadda et al. | Feb 2017 | B2 |
9579114 | Mantell et al. | Feb 2017 | B2 |
9629567 | Porath et al. | Apr 2017 | B2 |
9642673 | Adams | May 2017 | B2 |
9662069 | De Graff et al. | May 2017 | B2 |
9687166 | Subramaniam | Jun 2017 | B2 |
9730715 | Adams | Aug 2017 | B2 |
9764142 | Imran | Sep 2017 | B2 |
9814476 | Adams et al. | Nov 2017 | B2 |
9861377 | Mantell et al. | Jan 2018 | B2 |
9867629 | Hawkins et al. | Jan 2018 | B2 |
9894756 | Weinkam et al. | Feb 2018 | B2 |
9955946 | Miller et al. | May 2018 | B2 |
9974963 | Imran | May 2018 | B2 |
9974970 | Nuta et al. | May 2018 | B2 |
9993292 | Adams et al. | Jun 2018 | B2 |
10039561 | Adams et al. | Aug 2018 | B2 |
10136829 | Deno et al. | Nov 2018 | B2 |
10149690 | Hawkins et al. | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10159505 | Hakala et al. | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10194994 | Deno et al. | Feb 2019 | B2 |
10201387 | Grace et al. | Feb 2019 | B2 |
10206698 | Hakala et al. | Feb 2019 | B2 |
10226265 | Ku et al. | Mar 2019 | B2 |
10357264 | Kat-Kuoy | Jul 2019 | B2 |
10405923 | Yu et al. | Sep 2019 | B2 |
10406031 | Thyzel | Sep 2019 | B2 |
10420569 | Adams | Sep 2019 | B2 |
10441300 | Hawkins | Oct 2019 | B2 |
10478202 | Adams et al. | Nov 2019 | B2 |
10517620 | Adams | Dec 2019 | B2 |
10517621 | Hakala et al. | Dec 2019 | B1 |
10537287 | Braido et al. | Jan 2020 | B2 |
10555744 | Nguyen et al. | Feb 2020 | B2 |
10561428 | Eggert et al. | Feb 2020 | B2 |
10646240 | Betelia et al. | May 2020 | B2 |
10682178 | Adams et al. | Jun 2020 | B2 |
10702293 | Adams et al. | Jul 2020 | B2 |
10709462 | Nguyen et al. | Jul 2020 | B2 |
10758255 | Adams | Sep 2020 | B2 |
10842567 | Grace et al. | Nov 2020 | B2 |
10959743 | Adams et al. | Mar 2021 | B2 |
10966737 | Nguyen | Apr 2021 | B2 |
10973538 | Hakala et al. | Apr 2021 | B2 |
11000299 | Hawkins et al. | May 2021 | B2 |
11020135 | Hawkins | Jun 2021 | B1 |
11026707 | Ku et al. | Jun 2021 | B2 |
11076874 | Hakala et al. | Aug 2021 | B2 |
11213661 | Spindler | Jan 2022 | B2 |
11229772 | Nita | Jan 2022 | B2 |
11229776 | Kugler et al. | Jan 2022 | B2 |
20010051784 | Brisken | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020045811 | Kittrell et al. | Apr 2002 | A1 |
20020065512 | Fjield et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
20020082553 | Duchamp | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020183729 | Farr et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20020188204 | McNamara et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030009157 | Levine et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030050632 | Fjield et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030065316 | Levine et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030114901 | Loeb | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030176873 | Chernenko et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20040002677 | Gentsler | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040073251 | Weber | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040097996 | Rabiner | May 2004 | A1 |
20040133254 | Sterzer et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040162508 | Uebelacker | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040243119 | Lane et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040249401 | Rabiner | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050010095 | Stewart et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050021013 | Visuri | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050080396 | Rental | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050113722 | Schultheiss | May 2005 | A1 |
20050171527 | Bhola | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050251131 | Lesh | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20050273014 | Gianchandani et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20050277839 | Alderman et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060033241 | Schewe et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060084966 | Maguire et al. | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060190022 | Beyar et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20060200039 | Brockway et al. | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20060221528 | Li et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060241524 | Lee et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060241572 | Zhou | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060241733 | Zhang et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20060270976 | Savage et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
20070060990 | Satake | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070088380 | Hirszowicz et al. | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070118057 | Ein-gal | May 2007 | A1 |
20070239082 | Schultheiss et al. | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20070255270 | Carney | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070264353 | Myntti et al. | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070270897 | Skerven | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070299392 | Beyar et al. | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080095714 | Castella et al. | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20080097251 | Babaev | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20080108867 | Zhou | May 2008 | A1 |
20080114341 | Thyzel | May 2008 | A1 |
20080132810 | Scoseria et al. | Jun 2008 | A1 |
20080195088 | Farr et al. | Aug 2008 | A1 |
20080214891 | Slenker et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20080296152 | Voss | Dec 2008 | A1 |
20080319356 | Cain et al. | Dec 2008 | A1 |
20090036803 | Warlick et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
20090043300 | Reitmajer et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
20090054881 | Krespi | Feb 2009 | A1 |
20090097806 | Viellerobe et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20090125007 | Splinter | May 2009 | A1 |
20090192495 | Ostrovsky et al. | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20090247945 | Levit | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20090299327 | Tilson et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20090312768 | Hawkins et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20100016862 | Hawkins et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100036294 | Mantell et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100114020 | Hawkins et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
20100114065 | Hawkins et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
20100125268 | Gustus et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
20100160903 | Krespi | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20100168572 | Sliwa | Jul 2010 | A1 |
20100179632 | Bruszewski et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
20100191089 | Stebler et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
20100198114 | Novak et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20100199773 | Zhou | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20100222786 | Kassab | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20100234875 | Allex et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
20100256535 | Novak et al. | Oct 2010 | A1 |
20110034832 | Cioanta et al. | Feb 2011 | A1 |
20110059415 | Kasenbacher | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20110082452 | Melsky | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110082534 | Wallace | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110118634 | Golan | May 2011 | A1 |
20110144502 | Zhou et al. | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20110184244 | Kagaya et al. | Jul 2011 | A1 |
20110208185 | Diamant et al. | Aug 2011 | A1 |
20110245740 | Novak et al. | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20110257641 | Hastings et al. | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20110263921 | Vrba et al. | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20110275990 | Besser et al. | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20120071715 | Beyar et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120071889 | Mantell et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
20120095335 | Sverdlik et al. | Apr 2012 | A1 |
20120095461 | Herscher et al. | Apr 2012 | A1 |
20120116289 | Hawkins et al. | May 2012 | A1 |
20120116486 | Naga et al. | May 2012 | A1 |
20120123331 | Satake | May 2012 | A1 |
20120157892 | Reitmajer et al. | Jun 2012 | A1 |
20120197245 | Burnett | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120203255 | Hawkins et al. | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120221013 | Hawkins | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120296367 | Grovender et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20130030431 | Adams | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20130030447 | Adams | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20130041355 | Heeren et al. | Feb 2013 | A1 |
20130046207 | Capelli | Feb 2013 | A1 |
20130116714 | Adams et al. | May 2013 | A1 |
20130197614 | Gustus | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130218054 | Sverdlik et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130226131 | Bacino et al. | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130253466 | Campbell | Sep 2013 | A1 |
20130345617 | Wallace | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20140005576 | Adams | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20140039002 | Adams et al. | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20140039358 | Zhou et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140039513 | Hakala | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140046229 | Hawkins et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140046353 | Adams | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140052146 | Curtis et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140052147 | Hakala et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140058294 | Gross et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140074111 | Hakala | Mar 2014 | A1 |
20140114198 | Samada et al. | Apr 2014 | A1 |
20140153087 | Hutchings et al. | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140180069 | Millett | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140180126 | Millett | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140180134 | Hoseit | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140257144 | Capelli et al. | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140257148 | Jie | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140276573 | Miesel | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140288570 | Adams | Sep 2014 | A1 |
20140336632 | Toth | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20150005576 | Diodone et al. | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20150039002 | Hawkins | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20150073430 | Hakala et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
20150105715 | Pikus et al. | Apr 2015 | A1 |
20150119870 | Rudie | Apr 2015 | A1 |
20150141764 | Harks et al. | May 2015 | A1 |
20150276689 | Watanabe | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20150313732 | Fulton, III | Nov 2015 | A1 |
20150359432 | Ehrenreich | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20160008016 | Cioanta et al. | Jan 2016 | A1 |
20160016016 | Taylor et al. | Jan 2016 | A1 |
20160018602 | Govari et al. | Jan 2016 | A1 |
20160022294 | Cioanta et al. | Jan 2016 | A1 |
20160038087 | Hunter | Feb 2016 | A1 |
20160095610 | Lipowski et al. | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20160135828 | Hawkins et al. | May 2016 | A1 |
20160183957 | Hakala et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160184022 | Grace et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160184023 | Grace et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160184570 | Grace et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160262784 | Grace et al. | Sep 2016 | A1 |
20160270806 | Wallace | Sep 2016 | A1 |
20160234534 | Hawkins et al. | Nov 2016 | A1 |
20160324564 | Gerlach et al. | Nov 2016 | A1 |
20160331389 | Hakala et al. | Nov 2016 | A1 |
20160367274 | Wallace | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20160367275 | Wallace | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20170049463 | Popovic et al. | Feb 2017 | A1 |
20170056035 | Adams | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20170056087 | Buckley | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20170086867 | Adams | Mar 2017 | A1 |
20170119469 | Shimizu et al. | May 2017 | A1 |
20170119470 | Diamant et al. | May 2017 | A1 |
20170135709 | Nguyen et al. | May 2017 | A1 |
20170265942 | Grace et al. | Sep 2017 | A1 |
20170303946 | Ku et al. | Oct 2017 | A1 |
20170311965 | Adams | Nov 2017 | A1 |
20180008348 | Grace et al. | Jan 2018 | A1 |
20180042677 | Yu et al. | Feb 2018 | A1 |
20180049877 | Venkatasubramanian | Feb 2018 | A1 |
20180092763 | Dagan et al. | Apr 2018 | A1 |
20180098779 | Betelia et al. | Apr 2018 | A1 |
20180152568 | Kat-kuoy | Jun 2018 | A1 |
20180256250 | Adams et al. | Sep 2018 | A1 |
20180280005 | Parmentier | Oct 2018 | A1 |
20180303501 | Hawkins | Oct 2018 | A1 |
20180303503 | Eggert et al. | Oct 2018 | A1 |
20180303504 | Eggert et al. | Oct 2018 | A1 |
20180304053 | Eggert et al. | Oct 2018 | A1 |
20180333043 | Teriluc | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20180360482 | Nguyen | Dec 2018 | A1 |
20190029702 | De Cicco | Jan 2019 | A1 |
20190029703 | Wasdyke et al. | Jan 2019 | A1 |
20190069916 | Hawkins et al. | Mar 2019 | A1 |
20190175111 | Genereux et al. | Jun 2019 | A1 |
20190175372 | Boydan et al. | Jun 2019 | A1 |
20190209368 | Park | Jul 2019 | A1 |
20190232066 | Lim et al. | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20190262594 | Ogata et al. | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20190282249 | Tran et al. | Sep 2019 | A1 |
20190282250 | Tran et al. | Sep 2019 | A1 |
20190328259 | Deno et al. | Oct 2019 | A1 |
20190388002 | Bozsak et al. | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20190388110 | Nguyen et al. | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20200000484 | Hawkins | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200046949 | Chisena et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200054352 | Brouillette et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200061931 | Brown et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
20200069371 | Brown et al. | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20200085458 | Nguyen et al. | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20200085459 | Adams | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20200129195 | McGowan et al. | Apr 2020 | A1 |
20200129741 | Kawwas | Apr 2020 | A1 |
20200197019 | Harper | Jun 2020 | A1 |
20200246032 | Betelia et al. | Aug 2020 | A1 |
20200289202 | Miyagawa et al. | Sep 2020 | A1 |
20200297366 | Nguyen et al. | Sep 2020 | A1 |
20200337717 | Walzman | Oct 2020 | A1 |
20200383724 | Adams et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200397230 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200398033 | McGowan et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200405333 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200405391 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200406009 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20200406010 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20210038237 | Adams | Feb 2021 | A1 |
20210085347 | Phan et al. | Mar 2021 | A1 |
20210085348 | Nguyen | Mar 2021 | A1 |
20210085383 | Vo et al. | Mar 2021 | A1 |
20210128241 | Schultheis | May 2021 | A1 |
20210137598 | Cook | May 2021 | A1 |
20210153939 | Cook | May 2021 | A1 |
20210177445 | Nguyen | Jun 2021 | A1 |
20210186613 | Cook | Jun 2021 | A1 |
20210220052 | Cook | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210220053 | Cook | Jul 2021 | A1 |
20210244473 | Cook et al. | Aug 2021 | A1 |
20210267685 | Schultheis | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210275247 | Schultheis | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210275249 | Massimini et al. | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210282792 | Adams et al. | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210290259 | Hakala et al. | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210290286 | Cook | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210290305 | Cook | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210307828 | Schultheis | Oct 2021 | A1 |
20210330384 | Cook | Oct 2021 | A1 |
20210338258 | Hawkins et al. | Nov 2021 | A1 |
20210353359 | Cook | Nov 2021 | A1 |
20210369348 | Cook | Dec 2021 | A1 |
20210378743 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2021 | A1 |
20210386479 | Massimini et al. | Dec 2021 | A1 |
20220000505 | Hauser | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220000506 | Hauser | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220000507 | Hauser | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220000508 | Schmitt et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220000509 | Laser et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220000551 | Govari et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220008130 | Massimini et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220008693 | Humbert et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220015785 | Hakala et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220021190 | Pecquois | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220022902 | Spano | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220022912 | Efremkin | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220023528 | Long et al. | Jan 2022 | A1 |
20220071704 | Le | Mar 2022 | A1 |
20220183738 | Flores et al. | Jun 2022 | A1 |
20220218402 | Schultheis | Jul 2022 | A1 |
20220249165 | Cook | Aug 2022 | A1 |
20220273324 | Schultheis | Sep 2022 | A1 |
20220354578 | Cook | Nov 2022 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2017205323 | Jan 2022 | AU |
2019452180 | Jan 2022 | AU |
2983655 | Oct 2016 | CA |
102057422 | May 2011 | CN |
109223100 | Jan 2019 | CN |
110638501 | Jan 2020 | CN |
11399346 | Jan 2022 | CN |
107411805 | Jan 2022 | CN |
107899126 | Jan 2022 | CN |
109475378 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113876388 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113877044 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113907838 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113951972 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113951973 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113974765 | Jan 2022 | CN |
113974826 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215384399 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215386905 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215458400 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215458401 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215505065 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215534803 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215537694 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215584286 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215606068 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215651393 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215651394 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215651484 | Jan 2022 | CN |
215653328 | Jan 2022 | CN |
3038445 | May 1982 | DE |
3836337 | Apr 1990 | DE |
3913027 | Oct 1990 | DE |
202008016760 | Mar 2009 | DE |
102007046902 | Apr 2009 | DE |
102008034702 | Jan 2010 | DE |
102009007129 | Aug 2010 | DE |
202010009899 | Nov 2010 | DE |
102013201928 | Aug 2014 | DE |
102020117713 | Jan 2022 | DE |
0261831 | Jun 1992 | EP |
558297 | Sep 1993 | EP |
0571306 | Nov 1993 | EP |
1179993 | Feb 2002 | EP |
1946712 | Jul 2008 | EP |
2157569 | Feb 2010 | EP |
2879595 | Jun 2015 | EP |
2879595 | Jun 2015 | EP |
2944264 | Jun 2015 | EP |
3226795 | Oct 2017 | EP |
3318204 | May 2018 | EP |
3461438 | Apr 2019 | EP |
3473195 | Apr 2019 | EP |
3643260 | Apr 2020 | EP |
3076881 | Jan 2022 | EP |
3932342 | Jan 2022 | EP |
3936140 | Jan 2022 | EP |
4051154 | Sep 2022 | EP |
1082397 | Sep 1967 | GB |
S62275446 | Nov 1987 | JP |
20050098932 | Oct 2005 | KR |
20080040111 | May 2008 | KR |
20160090877 | Aug 2016 | KR |
WO9007904 | Jul 1990 | WO |
WO9105332 | Apr 1991 | WO |
9203095 | Mar 1992 | WO |
1992008515 | May 1992 | WO |
9902095 | Jan 1999 | WO |
9920189 | Apr 1999 | WO |
WO200067648 | Nov 2000 | WO |
WO2000067648 | Nov 2000 | WO |
2001003599 | Jan 2001 | WO |
2006006169 | Jan 2006 | WO |
WO2009121017 | Oct 2009 | WO |
WO2009149321 | Dec 2009 | WO |
2010042653 | Apr 2010 | WO |
WO2011094379 | Aug 2011 | WO |
2011126580 | Oct 2011 | WO |
WO2012025833 | Mar 2012 | WO |
WO20120052924 | Apr 2012 | WO |
WO2012099974 | Jul 2012 | WO |
WO20120120495 | Sep 2012 | WO |
WO2013119662 | Aug 2013 | WO |
20130169807 | Nov 2013 | WO |
WO2014022436 | Feb 2014 | WO |
WO2014025397 | Feb 2014 | WO |
WO20140022867 | Feb 2014 | WO |
WO2015056662 | Apr 2015 | WO |
WO2015097251 | Jul 2015 | WO |
2015177790 | Nov 2015 | WO |
WO2016089683 | Jun 2016 | WO |
WO2016109739 | Jul 2016 | WO |
WO2016151595 | Sep 2016 | WO |
WO2017004432 | Jan 2017 | WO |
WO20170192869 | Nov 2017 | WO |
20180022641 | Feb 2018 | WO |
WO2018022593 | Feb 2018 | WO |
WO2018083666 | May 2018 | WO |
2018175322 | Sep 2018 | WO |
WO2019200201 | Oct 2019 | WO |
WO2019215869 | Nov 2019 | WO |
WO2020056031 | Mar 2020 | WO |
WO20200086361 | Apr 2020 | WO |
WO2020089876 | May 2020 | WO |
WO2020256898 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020256898 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020256949 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020263469 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020263685 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020263687 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020263688 | Dec 2020 | WO |
WO2020263689 | Dec 2020 | WO |
2021086571 | May 2021 | WO |
2021101766 | May 2021 | WO |
WO2021096922 | May 2021 | WO |
WO2021126762 | Jun 2021 | WO |
WO2021162855 | Aug 2021 | WO |
WO2021173417 | Sep 2021 | WO |
WO2021183367 | Sep 2021 | WO |
WO2021183401 | Sep 2021 | WO |
WO2021188233 | Sep 2021 | WO |
WO2021202248 | Oct 2021 | WO |
WO2021231178 | Nov 2021 | WO |
WO2021247685 | Dec 2021 | WO |
WO2021257425 | Dec 2021 | WO |
WO2022007490 | Jan 2022 | WO |
WO2022008440 | Jan 2022 | WO |
WO2022010767 | Jan 2022 | WO |
WO2022055784 | Mar 2022 | WO |
WO2022125525 | Jun 2022 | WO |
WO2022154954 | Jul 2022 | WO |
WO2022173719 | Aug 2022 | WO |
WO2022187058 | Sep 2022 | WO |
WO2022216488 | Oct 2022 | WO |
WO2022240674 | Nov 2022 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 19, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/059960. |
Shariat, Mohammad H., et al. “Localization of the ectopic spiral electrical source using intracardiac electrograms during atrial fibrillation.” 2015 IEEE 28th Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (CCECE). IEEE, 2015. |
Nademanee, Koonlawee, et al. “A new approach for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: mapping of the electrophysiologic substrate.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology 43.11 (2004): 2044-2053. |
Calkins, Hugh. “Three dimensional mapping of atrial fibrillation: techniques and necessity.” Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology 13.1 (2005): 53-59. |
Shariat, Mohammad Hassan. Processing the intracardiac electrogram for atrial fibrillation ablation. Diss. Queen's University (Canada), 2016. |
Meng et al., “Accurate Recovery of Atrial Endocardial Potential Maps From Non-contact Electrode Data.” Auckland Bioengineering Institute. (ID 1421). |
Jiang et al., “Multielectrode Catheter for Substrate Mapping For Scar-related VT Ablation: A Comparison Between Grid Versus Linear Configurations.” UChicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Chicago IL (ID 1368). |
Sacher et al., “Comparison of Manual Vs Automatic Annotation To Identify Abnormal Substrate for Scar Related VT Ablation.” LIRYC Institute, Bordeaux University Hospital, France (ID 1336). |
Provisional International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 19, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/059960. |
Oriel Instruments, “Introduction to Beam Splitters for Optical Research Applications”, Apr. 2014, pp. 1-9, https://www.azoptics.com/Article aspx?ArticaID=871. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 12, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/059960. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 13, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/064846. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 13, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/013944. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 25, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/017604. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Intraocular Photodisruption With Picosecond and Nanosecond Laser Pulses: Tissue Effects in Cornea, Lens, and Retina”, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Jun. 1994, pp. 3032-3044, vol. 35, No. 7, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. |
Jones, H. M., et al. “Pulsed dielectric breakdown of pressurized water and salt solutions”, Journal of Applied Physics, Jun. 1998, pp. 795-805, vol. 77, No. 2, American Institute of Physics. |
Kozulin, I., et al. “The dynamic of the water explosive vaporization on the flat microheater”, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2018, pp. 1-4, IOP Publishing, Russia. |
Cross, F., “Laser Angioplasty”, Vascular Medicine Review, 1992, pp. 21-30, Edward Arnold. |
Doukas, A. G., et al. “Laser-generated stress waves and their effects on the cell membrane”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 1999, pp. 997-1003, vol. 5, Issue 4, IEEE. |
Noack, J., et al. “Laser-Induced Plasma Formation in Water at Nanosecond to Femtosecond Time Scales: Calculation of Thresholds, Absorption Coefficients, and Energy Density”, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1999, pp. 1156-1167, vol. 35, No. 8, IEEE. |
Pratsos, A., “The use of Laser for the treatment of coronary artery disease”, Bryn Mawr Hospital, 2010. |
Li, Xian-Dong, et al. “Influence of deposited energy on shock wave induced by underwater pulsed current discharge”, Physics of Plasmas, 2016, vol. 23, American Institute of Physics. |
Logunov, S., et al. “Light diffusing optical fiber illumination”, Renewable Energy and the Environment Congress, 2013, Coming, NY, USA. |
Maxwell, A. D., et al. “Cavitation clouds created by shock scattering from bubbles during histotripsy”, Acoustical Society of America, 2011, pp. 1888-1898, vol. 130, No. 4, Acoustical Society of America. |
Mcateer, James A., et al. “Ultracal-30 Gypsum Artificial Stones for Research on the Mechinisms of Stone Breakage in Shock Wave Lithotripsy”, 2005, pp. 429-434, Springer-Verlag. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Mechanisms of Intraocular Photodisruption With Picosecond and Nanosecond Laser Pulses”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1994, pp. 32-43, vol. 15, Wiley-Liss Inc., Lubeck, Germany. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Mechanisms of Pulsed Laser Ablation of Biological Tissues”, Chemical Reviews, 2003, pp. 577-644, vol. 103, No. 2, American Chemical Society. |
Medlight, “Cylindrical light diffuser Model RD-ML”, Medlight S.A., Switzerland. |
Medlight, “Cylindircal light diffuser Model RD”, Medlight S.A., Switzerland. |
Mayo, Michael E., “Interaction of Laser Radiation with Urinary Calculi”, Cranfield University Defense and Security, PhD Thesis, 2009, Cranfield University. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Minimization of Cavitation Effects in Pulsed Laser Ablation Illustrated on Laser Angioplasty”, Applied Physics, 1996, pp. 173-182, vol. 62, Springer-Verlag. |
Mirshekari, G., et al. “Microscale Shock Tube”, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 2012, pp. 739-747, vol. 21, No. 3, IEEE. |
“Polymicro Sculpted Silica Fiber Tips”, Molex, 2013, Molex. |
Zhou, J., et al. “Optical Fiber Tips and Their Applications”, Polymicro Technologies A Subsidiary of Molex, Nov. 2007. |
Liang, Xiao-Xuan, et al. “Multi-Rate-Equation modeling of the energy spectrum of laser-induced conduction band electrons in water”, Optics Express, 2019, vol. 27, No. 4, Optical Society of America. |
Nachabe, R., et al. “Diagnosis of breast cancer using diffuse optical spectroscopy from 500 to 1600 nm: comparison of classification methods”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2011, vol. 16(8), SPIE. |
Augol'Nykh, K. A., et al. “Spark Discharges in Water”, Academy of Sciences USSR Institute of Acoustics, 1971, Nauka Publishing Co., Moscow, USSR. |
Van Leeuwen, Ton G., et al. “Noncontact Tissue Ablation by Holmium: YSGG Laser Pulses in Blood”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1991, vol. 11, pp. 26-34, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Nyame, Yaw A., et al. “Kidney Stone Models for In Vitro Lithotripsy Research: A Comprehensive Review”, Journal of Endourology, Oct. 2015, pp. 1106-1109, vol. 29, No. 10, Mary Ann Liebert Inc., Cleveland, USA. |
Ohl, Siew-Wan, et al. “Bubbles with shock waves and ultrasound: a review”, Interface Focus, pp. 1-15, vol. 5, The Royal Society Publishing. |
Zheng, W., “Optical Lenses Manufactured on Fiber Ends”, IEEE, 2015, Splicer Engineering, Duncan SC USA. |
Dwyer, P. J., et al. “Optically integrating balloon device for photodynamic therapy”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2000, pp. 58-66, vol. 26, Issue 1, Wiley-Liss Inc., Boston MA USA. |
“The New Optiguide DCYL700 Fiber Optic Diffuser Series”, Optiguide Fiber Optic Spec Sheet, Pinnacle Biologies, 2014, Pinnacle Biologies, Illinois, USA. |
Van Leeuwen, Ton G., et al. “Origin of arterial wall dissections induced by pulsed excimer and mid-infared laser ablation in the pig”, JACC, 1992, pp. 1610-1618, vol. 19, No. 7, American College of Cardiology. |
Oshita, D., et al. “Characteristic of Cavitation Bubbles and Shock Waves Generated by Pulsed Electric Discharges with Different Voltages”, IEEE, 2012, pp. 102-105, Kumamoto, Japan. |
Karsch, Karl R., et al. “Percutaneous Coronary Excimer Laser Angioplasty in Patients With Stable and Unstable Angina Pectoris”, Circulation, 1990, pp. 1849-1859, vol. 81, No. 6, American Heart Association, Dallas TX, USA. |
Murray, A., et al. “Peripheral laser angioplasty with pulsed dye laser and ball tipped optical fibres”, The Lancet, 1989, pp. 1471-1474, vol. 2, Issue 8678-8679. |
Mohammadzadeh, M., et al. “Photoacoustic Shock Wave Emission and Cavitation from Structured Optical Fiber Tips”, Applied Physics Letters, 2016, vol. 108, American Institute of Physics Publishing LLC. |
Doukas, A. G., et al. “Physical characteristics and biological effects of laser-induced stress waves”, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 1996, pp. 151-164, vol. 22, Issue 2, World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, USA. |
Doukas, A. G., et al. “Physical factors involved in stress-wave-induced cell injury: the effect of stress gradient”, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 1995, pp. 961-967, vol. 21, Issue 7, Elsevier Science Ltd., USA. |
Piedrahita, Francisco S., “Experimental Research Work on a Sub-Millimeter Spark-Gap for Sub Nanosecond Gas Breakdown”, Thesis for Universidad Nacional De Colombia, 2012, Bogota, Colombia. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Plasma Formation in Water by Picosecond and Nanosecond Nd: YAG Laser Pulses—Part I: Optical Breakdown at Threshold and Superthreshold Irradiance”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 1996, pp. 847-859, vol. 2, No. 4, IEEE. |
Park, Hee K., et al. “Pressure Generation and Measurement in the Rapid Vaporization of Water on a Pulsed-Laser-Heated Surface”, Journal of Applied Physics, 1996, pp. 4072-4081, vol. 80, No. 7, American Institute of Physics. |
Cummings, Joseph P., et al. “Q-Switched laser ablation of tissue: plume dynamics and the effect of tissue mechanical properties”, SPIE, Laser-Tissue Interaction III, 1992, pp. 242-253, vol. 1646. |
Lee, Seung H., et al. “Radial-firing optical fiber tip containing conical-shaped air-pocket for biomedical applications”, Optics Express, 2015, vol. 23, No. 16, Optical Society of America. |
Hui, C., et al. “Research on sound fields generated by laser-induced liquid breakdown”, Optica Applicata, 2010, pp. 898-907, vol. XL, No. 4, Xi'an, China. |
Riel, Louis-Philippe, et al. “Characterization of Calcified Plaques Retrieved From Occluded Arteries and Comparison with Potential Artificial Analogues”, Proceedings of the ASME 2014 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2014, pp. 1-11, ASME, Canada. |
Roberts, Randy M., et al. “The Energy Partition of Underwater Sparks”, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1996, pp. 3465-3475, vol. 99, No. 6, Acoustical Society of America. |
Rocha, R., et al. “Fluorescence and Reflectance Spectroscopy for Identification of Atherosclerosis in Human Carotid Arteries Using Principal Components Analysis”, Photomedicine and Lsser Surgery, 2008, pp. 329-335, vol. 26, No. 4, Mary Ann Liebert Inc. |
Scepanovic, Obrad R., et al. “Multimodal spectroscopy detects features of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2011, pp. 1-10, vol. 16, No. 1, SPIE. |
Serruys, P. W., et al. “Shaking and Breaking Calcified Plaque Lithoplasty, a Breakthrough in Interventional Armamentarium?”, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2017, pp. 907-911, vol. 10, No. 8, Elsevier. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Shock wave emission and cavitation bubble generation by picosecond and nanosecond optical breakdown in water”, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1996, pp. 148-165, vol. 100, No. 1, Acoustical Society of America. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Shock-Wave Energy and Acoustic Energy Dissipation After Laser-induced Breakdown”, SPIE, 1998, pp. 180-189, vol. 3254, SPIE. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 2, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/018522. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 2, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/015204. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 17, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/020934. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 13, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/024216. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 22, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/020937. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 24, 2021 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/021272. |
Schafter+Kirchhoff, Laser Beam Couplers series 60SMS for coupling into single-mode and polarization-maintaining fiber cables, Schafter+Kirchhoff, pp. 1-5, Germany. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 29, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/059961. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 20, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/054792. |
Stelzle, F., et al. “Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy for Optical Soft Tissue Differentiation as Remote Feedback Control for Tissue-Specific Laser Surgery”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2010, pp. 319-325, vol. 42, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Stelzle, F., et al. Tissue Discrimination by Uncorrected Autofluorescence Spectra: A Proof-of-Principle Study for Tissue-Specific Laser Surgery, Sensors, 2013, pp. 13717-13731, vol. 13, Basel, Switzerland. |
Tagawa, Y., et al. “Structure of laser-induced shock wave in water”, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2016. |
Shen, Y., et al. “Theoretical and experimental studies of directivity of sound field generated by pulsed laser induced breakdown in liquid water”, SPIE, 2013, pp. 8796141-8796148, vol. 8796, SPIE. |
Preisack, M., et al. “Ultrafast imaging of tissue ablation by a XeCI excimer laser in saline”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1992, pp. 520-527, vol. 12, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Versluis, M., et al. “How Snapping Shrimp Snap: Through Cavitating Bubbles”, Science Mag, 2000, pp. 2114-2117, vol. 289, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington DC, USA. |
Yan, D., et al. “Study of the Electrical Characteristics, Shock-Wave Pressure Characteristics, and Attenuation Law Based on Pulse Discharge in Water”, Shock and Vibration, 2016, pp. 1-11, vol. 2016, Article ID 6412309, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. |
Zhang, Q., et al. “Improved Instruments and Methods for the Photographic Study of Spark-Induced Cavitation Bubbles”, Water, 2018, pp. 1-12, vol. 10, No. 1683. |
“Damage threshold of fiber facets”, NKT Photonics, 2012, pp. 1-4, Denmark. |
Smith, A., et al. “Bulk and surface laser damage of silica by picosecond and nanosecond pulses at 1064 nm”, Applied Optics, 2008, pp. 4812-4832, vol. 47, No. 26, Optical Society of America. |
Smith, A., et al. “Deterministic Nanosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Thresholds in Pure and Yb3 Doped Fused Silica”, SPIE, 2007, pp. 6453171-64531712, vol. 6453, SPIE. |
Sun, X., et al. “Laser Induced Damage to Large Core Optical Fiber by High Peak Power Laser”, Specialty Photonics Division, 2010. |
Smith, A., et al. “Nanosecond laser-induced breakdown in pure and Yb3 doped fused silica”, SPIE, 2007, vol. 6403, SPIE. |
Smith, A., et al. “Optical Damage Limits to Pulse Energy From Fibers”, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2009, pp. 153-158, vol. 15, No. 1, IEEE. |
Reichel, E., et al. “A Special Irrigation Liquid to Increase the Reliability of Laser-Induced Shockwave Lithotripsy”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1992, pp. 204-209, vol. 12, Wiley-Liss Inc., Graz, Austria. |
Reichel, E., et al. “Bifunctional irrigation liquid as an ideal energy converter for laser lithotripsy with nanosecond laser pulses”, SPIE Lasers in Urology, Laparoscopy, and General Surgery, 1991, pp. 129-133, vol. 1421, SPIE. |
Reichel, E., et al. “Laser-induced ShockWave Lithotripsy with a Regenerative Energy Converter”, Lasers in Medical Science, 1992, pp. 423-425, vol. 7, Bailliere Tindall. |
Hardy, L., et al. “Cavitation Bubble Dynamics during Thulium Fiber Laser Lithotripsy”, SPIE BiOS, 2016, vol. 9689, SPIE. |
Deckelbaum, L., “Coronary Laser Angioplasty”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1994, pp. 101-110, vol. 14, Wiley-Liss Inc., Conneticuit, USA. |
Shangguan, H., et al. “Effects of Material Properties on Laser-induced Bubble Formation in Absorbing Liquids and on Submerged Targets”, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiovascular Interventions VII, SPIE, 1997, pp. 783-791, vol. 2869, SPIE. |
Van Leeuwen, T., et al. “Excimer Laser Induced Bubble: Dimensions, Theory, and Implications for Laser Angioplasty”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1996, pp. 381-390, vol. 18, Wiley-Liss Inc , The Netherlands. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Shock Wave Emission and Cavitation Bubble Generation by Picosecond and Nanosecond Optical Breakdown in Water”, The Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 1996, pp. 148-165, vol. 100, No. 1, The Acoustical Society of America. |
Varghese, B., et al. “Influence of absorption induced thermal initiation pathway on irradiance threshold for laser induced breakdown”, Biomedical Optics Express, 2015, vol. 6, No. 4, Optical Society of America. |
Linz, N., et al. “Wavelength dependence of nanosecond infrared laser-induced breakdown in water: Evidence for multiphoton initiation via an intermediate state”, Physical Review, 2015, pp. 134114.1-1341141.10, vol. 91, American Physical Society. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 27, 2018, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/JS2018/027121. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 20, 2018, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2018/027801. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 20, 2018, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2018/027784. |
European Search Report, for European U.S. Appl. No. 18/185,152, dated Dec. 13, 2018. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 22, 2019, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2019/022009. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 29, 2019, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2019/022016. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 22, 2018, in Application Serial No. NL2019807, issued by the European Patent Office. |
Noimark, Sacha, et al., “Carbon-Nanotube-PDMS Composite Coatings on Optical Fibers for All-Optical Ultrasound Imaging”, Advanced Functional Materials, 2016, pp. 8390-8396, vol. 26, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Chen, Sung-Liang, “Review of Laser-Generated Ultrasound Transmitters and their Applications to All-Optical Ultrasound Transducers and Imaging”, Appl. Sci. 2017, 7, 25. |
Colchester, R., et al. “Laser-Generated ultrasound with optica fibres using functionalised carbon nanotube composite coatings”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2014, vol. 104, 173504, American Institute of Physics. |
Poduval, R., et al. “Optical fiber ultrasound transmitter with electrospun carbon nanotube-polymer composite”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 2017, vol. 110, 223701, American Institute of Physics. |
Tian, J., et al. “Distributed fiber-optic laser-ultrasound generation based on ghost-mode of tilted fiber Bragg gratings”, Optics Express, Mar. 2013, pp. 6109-6114, vol. 21, No. 5, Optical Society of America. |
Kim, J., et al. “Optical Fiber Laser-Generated-Focused-Ultrasound Transducers for Intravascular Therapies”, IEEE, 2017. |
Kang, H., et al. “Enhanced photocoagulation with catheter-based diffusing optical device”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2012, vol. 17, Issue 11, 118001, SPIE. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 3, 2020, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2019/056579. |
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC, for European Patent Application No. 18185152.8, dated Jan. 16, 2019. |
European Search Report, for European Patent Application No. 18185152.8, dated Dec. 20, 2018. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 29, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/034005. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 11, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/038517. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 9, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/038530. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 11, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/038521. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 7, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/034642. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Sep. 15, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2019/022009. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 14, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/038523. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 2, 2020 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/036107. |
Davletshin, Yevgeniy R., “A Computational Analysis of Nanoparticle-Mediated Optical Breakdown”, A dissertation presented to Ryerson University in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Program of Physics, Toronto, Ontario, CA 2017. |
Vogel, A., et al. “Acoustic transient generation by laser-produced cavitation bubbles near solid boundaries”, Journal Acoustical Society of America, 1988, pp. 719-731, vol. 84. |
Asshauer, T., et al. “Acoustic transient generation by holmium-laser-induced cavitation bubbles”, Journal of Applied Physics, Nov. 1, 1994, pp. 5007-5013, vol. 76, No. 9, American Institute of Physics. |
Zheng, W., “Optic Lenses Manufactured on Fiber Ends”, 2015, Splicer Engineering AFL, Duncan, SC USA. |
Ali, Ziad A., et al. “Optical Coherence Tomography Characterization of Coronary Lithoplasty for Treatment of Calcified Lesions”, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, 2017, pp. 897-906, vol. 109, No. 8, Elsevier. |
Ali, Ziad A., et al. “Intravascular lithotripsy for treatment of stent underexpansion secondary to severe coronary calcification” 2018, European Society of Cardiology. |
Ashok, Praveen C., et al. “Raman spectroscopy bio-sensor for tissue discrimination in surgical robotics—full article”, Journal of Biophotonics, 2014, pp. 103-109, vol. 7, No. 1-2. |
Ashok, Praveen C., et al. Raman spectroscopy bio-sensor for tissue discrimination in surgical robotics—proof Journal of Biophotonics 7, 2014, No. 1-2. |
Bian, D. C., et al. “Experimental Study of Pulsed Discharge Underwater Shock-Related Properties in Pressurized Liquid Water”, Hindawi Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, Jan. 2018, 12 pages, vol. 2018, Article ID 8025708. |
Bian, D. C., et al. “Study on Breakdown Delay Characteristics Based on High-voltage Pulse Discharge in Water with Hydrostatic Pressure”, Journal of Power Technologies 97(2), 2017, pp. 89-102. |
Doukas, A. G., et al. “Biological effects of laser induced shock waves: Structural and functional cell damage in vitro”, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 1993, pp. 137-146, vol. 19, Issue 2, Pergamon Press, USA. |
Brodmann, Marianne et al. “Safety and Performance of Lithoplasty for Treatment of Calcified Peripheral Artery Lesions”, JACC, 2017, vol. 70, No. 7. |
Brouillette, M., “Shock Waves at Microscales”, 2003, pp. 3-12, Springer-Verlag. |
Mirshekari, G., et al. “Shock Waves in Microchannels”, 2013, pp. 259-283, vol. 724, Cambridge University Press. |
“Bubble Dynamics and ShockWaves”, Springer, 2013, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heildelberg. |
Hardy, Luke A., et al. “Cavitation Bubble Dynamics During Thulium Fiber Laser Lithotripsy”, SPIE, Feb. 29, 2016, vol. 9689, San Francisco, California, USA. |
Claverie, A., et al. “Experimental characterization of plasma formation and shockwave propagation induced by high power pulsed underwater electrical discharge”, Review of Scientific Instruments, 2014, American Institute of Physics. |
Blackmon, Richard L., et al. “Comparison of holmium: YAG and thulium fiber laser lithotripsy ablation thresholds, ablation rates, and retropulsion effects”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2011, vol. 16(7), SPIE. |
Debasis, P., et al. “Continuous-wave and quasi-continuous wave thulium-doped all-fiber laser: implementation an kidney stone fragmentations”, Applied Optics, Aug. 10, 2016, vol. 55, No. 23, Optical Society of America. |
Cook, Jason R., et al. “Tissue mimicking phantoms for photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging”, Biomedical Optics Express, 2011, vol. 2, No. 11, Optical Society of America. |
Deckelbaum, Lawrence I., “Coronary Laser Angioplasty”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1994, pp. 101-110, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Costanzo, F., “Underwater Explosion Phenomena and Shock Physics”, Research Gate, 2011. |
Mizere J. C., et al. “Cylindrical fiber optic light diffuser for medical applications”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 1996, pp. 159-167, vol. 19, Issue 2, Wiley-Liss Inc., Lausanne, Switzerland. |
De Silva, K., et al. “A Calcific, Undilatable Stenosis Lithoplasty, a New Tool in the Box?”, JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 2017, vol. 10, No. 3, Elsevier. |
Vesselov, L., et al. “Design and performance of thin cylindrical diffusers created in Ge-doped multimode optical Fibers”, Applied Optics, 2005, pp. 2754-2758, vol. 44, Issue 14, Optical Society of America. |
Hutchens, Thomas C., et al. “Detachable fiber optic tips for use in thulium fiber laser lithotripsy”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, Mar. 2013, vol. 18(3), SPIE. |
Kostanski, Kris L., et al. “Development of Novel Tunable Light Scattering Coating Materials for Fiber Optic Diffusers in Photodynamic Cancer Therapy”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2009, pp. 1516-1523, vol. 112, Wiley InterScience. |
Kristiansen, M., et al. “High Voltage Water Breakdown Studies”, DoD, 1998, Alexandria, VA, USA. |
Dwyer, J. R., et al. “A study of X-ray emission from laboratory sparks in air at atmospheric pressure”, Journal of Geophysical Research, 2008, vol. 113, American Geophysical Union. |
Jansen, Duco E., et al. “Effect of Pulse Duration on Bubble Formation and Laser-Induced Pressure Waves During Holmium Laser Ablation”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 18, 1996, pp. 278-293, Wiley-Liss Inc., Austin, TX, USA. |
Shangguan, HanQun et al. “Effects of Material Properties on Laser-induced Bubble Formation in Absorbing Liquids and on Submerged Targets”, SPIE, 1997, pp. 783-791, vol. 2869. |
Varghese, B., et al. “Effects of polarization and absorption on laser induced optical breakdown threshold for skin rejuvenation”, SPIE, Mar. 9, 2016, vol. 9740, SPIE, San Francisco, USA. |
Varghese, B., et al. “Effects of polarization and apodization on laser induced optical breakdown threshold”, Optics Express, Jul. 29, 2013, vol. 21, No. 15, Optical Society of America. |
Bonito, Valentina, “Effects of polarization, plasma and thermal initiation pathway on irradiance threshold of laser induced optical breakdown”, Philips Research, 2013, The Netherlands. |
Vogel, A. et al. “Energy balance of optical breakdown in water at nanosecond to femtosecond time scales”, Applied Physics B 68, 1999, pp. 271-280, Springer-Veriag. |
Kang, Hyun W., et al. “Enhanced photocoagulation with catheter based diffusing optical device”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, Nov. 2012, vol. 17(11), SPIE. |
Esch, E., et al. “A Simple Method for Fabricating Artificial Kidney Stones of Different Physical Properties”, National Institute of Health Public Access Author Manuscript, Aug. 2010. |
Isner, Jeffrey M., et al. “Excimer Laser Atherectomy”, Circulation, Jun. 1990, vol. 81, No. 6, American Heart Association, Dallas, TX, USA. |
Israel, Douglas H., et al. “Excimer Laser-Facilitated Balloon Angioplasty of a Nondilateable Lesion”, JACC, Oct. 1991, vol. 18, No. 4, American College of Cardiology, New York, USA. |
Van Leeuwen, Ton G., et al. “Excimer Laser Induced Bubble: Dimensions,Theory, and Implications for Laser Angioplasty”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 18, 1996, pp. 381-390, Wiley-Liss Inc., Utrecht, The Netherlands. |
Nguyen, H., et al. “Fabrication of multipoint side-firing optical fiber by laser micro-ablation”, Optics Letters, May 1, 2017, vol. 42, No. 9, Optical Society of America. |
Zheng, W., “Optic Lenses Manufactured on Fiber Ends”, 2015, IEEE, Duncan, SC, USA. |
Whitesides, George M., et al. “Fluidic Optics”, 2006, vol. 6329, SPIE, Cambridge, MA, USA. |
Forero, M., et al. “Coronary lithoplasty: a novel treatment for stent underexpansion”, Cardiovascular Flashlight, 2018, European Society of Cardiology. |
Ghanate, A. D., et al. “Comparative evaluation of spectroscopic models using different multivariate statistical tools in a multicancer scenario”, Journal of Biomedical Optics, Feb. 2011, pp. 1-9, vol. 16(2), SPIE. |
Roberts, Randy M., et al. “The Energy Partition of Underwater Sparks”, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Jun. 1996, pp. 3465-3474, Acoustical Society of America, Austin, TX, USA. |
Blackmon, Richard L., et al. “Holmium: YAG Versus Thulium Fiber Laser Lithotripsy”, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2010, pp. 232-236, Wiley-Liss Inc. |
Varghese, B., “Influence of absorption induced thermal initiation pathway on irradiance threshold for laser induced breakdown”, Biomedical Optics Express, 2015, vol. 6, No. 4, Optical Society of America. |
Noack, J., “Influence of pulse duration on mechanical effects after laser-induced breakdown in water”, Journal of Applied Physics, 1998, pp. 7488-EOA, vol. 83, American Institute of Physics. |
Van Leeuwen, Ton G., et al. “Intraluminal Vapor Bubble Induced by Excimer Laser Pulse Causes Microsecond Arterial Dilation and Invagination Leading to Extensive Wall Damage in the Rabbit”, Circulation, Apr. 1993, vol. 87, No. 4, American Heart Association, Dallas, TX, USA. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion, issued by the EP/ISA, in PCT/US2021/048819, dated Jan. 14, 2022. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion, issued by the European Patent Office for PCT/2021/XXX, dated Sep. 30, 2021. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 4, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/062170. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 4, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2021/065073. |
Partial Search Report and Provisional Opinion dated May 3, 2022 in PCT Application No. PCT/ US2022/015577. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 13, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2022/017562. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 28, 2022, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2022/015577. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 27, 2022, in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2022/022460. |
Medlight, “Cylindrical light diffuser Model RD-ML”, Medlight S.A., Switzerland. 2015. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Medlight, “Cylindircal light diffuser Model RD”, Medlight S.A., Switzerland. 2015. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Ohl, Siew-Wan, et al. “Bubbles with shock waves and ultrasound: a review”, Interface Focus, pp. 1-15, vol. 5, The Royal Society Publishing Oct. 2015. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Schafter+Kirchhoff, Laser Beam Couplers series 60SMS for coupling into single-mode and polarization-maintaining fiber cables, Schafter+Kirchhoff, pp. 1-5, Germany. Dec. 2, 2021. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Meng et al., “Accurate Recovery of Atrial Endocardial Potential Maps From Non-contact Electrode Data.” Auckland Bioengineering Institute. (ID 1421). May 2019. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Jiang et al., “Multielectrode Catheter for Substrate Mapping for Scar-related VT Ablation: A Comparison Between Grid Versus Linear Configurations.” UChicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Chicago Il (ID 1368). Posterior conference in San Francisco, May 8-11, 2019. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
Sacher et al., “Comparison of Manual Vs Automatic Annotation to Identify Abnormal Substrate for Scar Related VT Ablation.” LIRYC Institute, Bordeaux University Hospital, France (ID 1336). Poster for conference in San Francisco, May 8-11, 2019. (This reference was cited in a prior Information Disclosure Statement. However, the relevant date was missing. The date has now been added.). |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Aug. 25, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCTUS/2022/028035. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 15, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCTUS/2022/032045. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Nov. 8, 2022 in PCT Application Serial No. PCTUS/2022/039678. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20210128241 A1 | May 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62928628 | Oct 2019 | US |