US 12,004,760 B2
Catheter with shock wave electrodes aligned on longitudinal axis
Iulian Cioanta, Milton, GA (US)
Assigned to SanuWave, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by SANUWAVE, INC., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/061,278.
Application 18/061,278 is a division of application No. 16/860,544, filed on Apr. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,666,348.
Application 16/860,544 is a division of application No. 14/874,650, filed on Oct. 5, 2015, granted, now 10,639,051, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 14/272,155 is a division of application No. 14/036,461, filed on Sep. 25, 2013, granted, now 9,161,768, issued on Oct. 20, 2015.
Application 14/036,461 is a division of application No. 12/832,932, filed on Jul. 8, 2010, granted, now 8,556,813, issued on Oct. 15, 2013.
Application 14/874,650 is a continuation of application No. 14/272,155, filed on May 7, 2014, granted, now 10,058,340, issued on Aug. 28, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/223,919, filed on Jul. 8, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0111554 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/225 (2006.01); A61B 18/24 (2006.01); A61B 18/26 (2006.01); A61H 9/00 (2006.01); A61H 23/00 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); G10K 11/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/221 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/22012 (2013.01) [A61B 17/22004 (2013.01); A61B 17/2202 (2013.01); A61B 17/22022 (2013.01); A61B 17/22029 (2013.01); A61B 17/225 (2013.01); A61B 18/245 (2013.01); A61B 18/26 (2013.01); A61H 9/0057 (2013.01); A61H 23/008 (2013.01); G10K 11/28 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 17/22 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22014 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22024 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22025 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22039 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22051 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22054 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22067 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22079 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22082 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22084 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2212 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2253 (2013.01); A61B 17/2255 (2013.01); A61H 2201/14 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1664 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0008 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a catheter sized to fit within a wall of a blood vessel, wherein the catheter includes a distal end inserted into the blood vessel;
a balloon including a liquid inlet coupled to the catheter;
first and second electrodes coupled to the catheter within the balloon and aligned on a longitudinal axis along the length of the catheter, wherein the electrodes upon electrical discharge produce an unfocused radial pressure shock wave that propagates away from the longitudinal axis, and wherein one or both of the first and second electrodes do not intersect outward propagation of the unfocused radial pressure shock wave in a direction from the longitudinal axis of the catheter to the wall of the blood vessel;
a first radiopaque marker coupled to the catheter at a proximal end of the balloon and a second radiopaque marker coupled to the catheter at an opposite distal end of the balloon; and
the first and second electrodes positioned within the balloon between the first radiopaque marker and the second radiopaque marker.