| CPC A61B 18/245 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00065 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00285 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00404 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

|
1. A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel, the catheter system comprising:
a power source;
a light guide that receives power from the power source, the light guide having a distal tip, the light guide emitting light energy in a direction away from the distal tip;
an inflatable balloon that encircles the distal tip of the light guide; and
a plasma target that is spaced apart from the distal tip of the light guide by a target gap distance, the plasma target being positioned within the inflatable balloon, the plasma target being configured to receive light energy from the light guide so that a plasma is generated at the plasma target upon receiving the light energy from the light guide, the plasma target being at least partially formed from one of a polymer and a polymeric material.
|