Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Christopher Smuk

Roger W McGowan

Daniel Frank Massimini

Binh C Tran

Haiping Shao

Douglas Dean Pagoria

Peter Thornton, Jr

Jr Peter Thornton

Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Propulsion system for inertial energy transfer to disrupt vascular lesions

A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.

Balloon surface photoacoustic pressure wave generation to disrupt vascular lesions

A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures in a vascular lesion within or adjacent a vessel wall, includes a catheter and a superheating system. The catheter can advance to the vascular lesion. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon includes a balloon wall. The balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The superheating system can heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and to generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves. The superheating system can include a first light guide extending along the elongate shaft. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source at a proximal portion of the first light guide.

Superheating system for inertial impulse generation to disrupt vascular lesions

A photoacoustic catheter can include an elongate shaft and a first photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region and can include a first light guide that is in optical communication with a light source. The first photoacoustic transducer can be disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft and can be in optical communication with the first light guide. The first photoacoustic transducer can impart acoustic pressure waves upon a calcified lesion to induce fractures. The first photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material that can be in contact with one another.

Photoacoustic pressure wave generation for intravascular calcification disruption

An ultrasound catheter may be adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent the vessel wall. The ultrasound catheter includes an elongate shaft extending from a distal region to a proximal region and an ultrasound transducer that is disposed relative to the distal region of the elongate shaft and is adapted to impart near-field acoustic pressure waves upon the vascular lesion in order to mechanically modify the vascular lesion. An inflatable balloon is disposed about the ultrasound transducer and is coupled to the elongate shaft, the inflatable balloon having a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the ultrasound catheter through a patient's vasculature and an expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the ultrasound catheter in position relative to a treatment site.

Balloon-based intravascular ultrasound system for treatment of vascular lesions

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a system for measuring blood pressure. The system may include a pressure sensing guidewire including a pressure sensor and a first optical fiber extending proximally from the pressure sensor. The system may also include an optical connector cable including a distal connector capable of being coupled to the guidewire. The optical connector cable may include a second optical fiber that is capable of optically communicating with the first optical fiber. A coupler may be disposed within the distal connector and disposed between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

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Champlin, MN, United States of America

Christopher Smuk