Low profile electrodes for an angioplasty shock wave catheter

摘要

A system for generating shock waves including: an elongate element that extends axially (20); a balloon (106, 564) surrounding a part of the elongate element (20), said balloon (106, 564) being able to inflate with a conductive fluid; a first electrode assembly (340) in a first position along the length of the elongate element (20), the first electrode assembly (340) having a first inner electrode (306), a second inner electrode (330), and an outer electrode (308) and configured to initiate shock waves in two circumferentially offset positions; and a second electrode assembly (350) in a second position along the length of the elongate element (20), the second electrode assembly (350) having a first inner electrode (306), a second inner electrode (330) , and an outer electrode (308) and configured to initiate shock waves in two circumferentially offset positions where the second inner electrode (330) of the first electrode assembly (340) and the first inner electrode (306) of the second electrode assembly ( 350) are connected and where, when the balloon (106, 564) is filled with the conductive fluid and voltage is applied through the first inner electrode (306) of the first electrode assembly (340) and the second inner electrode of the second set of electrode (350), a current flows in series from the first inner electrode (306) to the outer electrode (308) to the second inner electrode (330) of the first electrode assembly (340) to the first inner electrode (306) to the ele outer electrode (308) to the second inner electrode (330) of the second electrode assembly (350) such that a first pair of shock waves is generated at the two circumferentially offset positions of the first electrode assembly (340) and generated a second pair of shock waves at the two circumferentially offset positions of the second electrode assembly (350).