Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes a single light source that generates light energy, a first light guide and a second light guide, and a multiplexer. The first light guide and the second light guide are each configured to selectively receive light energy from the light source. The multiplexer receives the light energy from the light source in the form of a source beam and selectively directs the light energy from the light source in the form of individual guide beams to each of the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for placement within a treatment site (106) at a vessel wall (208A) or a heart valve includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a tissue identification system (142). The energy source (124) generates energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The tissue identification system (142) is configured to spectroscopically analyze tissue within the treatment site (106).

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), an inflation conduit (140) and a pressure sensor assembly (142). The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146) that receives a balloon fluid (132). The energy source (124) generates energy that is received by the energy guide (122A) so that the energy guide (122A) can guide the light energy into the balloon interior (146). The inflation conduit (140) is in fluid communication with the balloon interior (146). The inflation conduit (140) is configured to convey the balloon fluid (132) into the balloon interior (146). The pressure sensor assembly (142) is configured to sense a balloon pressure of the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146).

Abstract: Disclosed is a multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of performing a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of removing or reducing smoke particles generated by the surgical procedure or operation on a subject, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, and remove or reduce smoke particles, and at least one of which is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization, tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject. Also disclosed is a method of employing the above disclosed device, apparatus or system or variations thereof to perform a surgical procedure or operation at a surgical site and to remove or reduce smoke particles generated during the surgical procedure or operation.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) of a blood vessel (108) includes a balloon (104), a first assembly illumination source (366) and a contact detector assembly (142). The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the vessel wall (108A) at the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The first assembly illumination source (366) generates a first assembly illumination beam (366B) that moves in a first direction (121F) into the balloon interior (146). The contact detector assembly (142) is configured to optically analyze a first returning energy beam (366R) from the balloon interior (146) that moves in a second direction (121S) that is opposite the first direction (121F), the contact detector assembly (142) being configured to analyze the first returning energy beam (366R) to determine a contact condition between the balloon wall (130) and the vessel wall (108A).

Abstract: A multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of perforating a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of attracting, collecting, removing or reducing debris generated by the surgical procedure or operation, on a subject. The apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, attract, collect, and remove or reduce debris. At least one of the electrodes is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes a single light source that generates light energy, a first light guide and a second light guide, and a multiplexer. The first light guide and the second light guide are each configured to selectively receive light energy from the light source. The multiplexer receives the light energy from the light source in the form of a source beam and selectively directs the light energy from the light source in the form of individual guide beams to each of the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel within a body of a patient, the treatment site having a proximal region and a distal region, includes an energy source, a guide shaft, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The guide shaft is positionable adjacent to the treatment site. The energy guide receives energy from the energy source. The energy guide is movably coupled to the guide shaft. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the treatment site. The guide distal end of the energy guide is selectively movable relative to the guide shaft and adjacent to and between the proximal region and the distal region of the treatment site while the energy guide receives energy from the energy source.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes a catheter shaft (110), a balloon (104), an energy source (124), a plurality of energy guides (122A), and a system controller (126). The energy source (124) generates pulses of energy. The energy guides (122A) are each configured to selectively receive at least one of the pulses of energy. Each of the energy guides (122A) includes a guide distal end (122D) that is positioned within a balloon interior (146) at a different longitudinal position from one another along a length (142) of the balloon (104). The system controller (126) (i) controls at least one of a pulse frequency, a pulse energy level and a pulse width of each of the pulses of energy, and (ii) controls a firing sequence of the pulses of energy such that the pulses of energy are sequentially directed to each of the energy guides (122A), so that an advancing wavefront (835) is generated within the balloon interior (146) that moves toward the treatment site (106).

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes a catheter fluid, an energy source that generates energy, an energy guide and an energy manifold. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is selectively positioned near the vascular lesion. The energy guide is configured to receive energy from the energy source and generate a plasma bubble within the catheter fluid. The energy manifold is coupled to the energy guide near the guide distal end. The energy manifold includes (i) a manifold body that defines a body chamber, the body chamber being configured to retain at least some of the catheter fluid, and (ii) a manifold aperture that extends through the manifold body. The energy manifold directs energy from the plasma bubble out of the body chamber through the manifold aperture and toward the vascular lesion.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) includes a light guide (122A) and a light source (124). The light guide (122A) is configured to selectively receive light energy. The light source (124) generates the light energy. The light source (124) is in optical communication with the light guide (122A). The light source can include (i) a seed source (260) that outputs the light energy, (ii) a pre-amplifier (262) that receives the light energy from the seed source (260), the pre-amplifier (262) being in optical communication with the seed source (260), and (iii) an amplifier (264) that receives the light energy from the pre-amplifier (262), the amplifier (264) being in optical communication with the pre-amplifier (262) and the light guide (122A).

Abstract: An energy director (1055) for a catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or heart valve within a body (107) of a patient (109). The catheter system (100) includes an energy source (124) that generates energy, a balloon (104) having a balloon distal region (1004DR) that has a varying diameter, and a balloon proximal region (1004PR) having a substantially constant diameter, and an energy guide (122A) including a guide distal end (122D), the energy guide (122A) being configured to receive the energy from the energy source (124). The energy director (1055) can include a guide sleeve (1057) that is secured to the energy guide (122), the guide sleeve at least partially (1057) encircling the guide distal end (122D) of the energy guide (122A). The guide sleeve (1057) extends distally from the guide distal end (122D) in a direction toward the balloon distal region (1004DR).

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes a first light source (124), a plurality of light guides (122A), a multiplexer (128), a multiplexer alignment system (142), and a first beamsplitter (268). The first light source (124) generates a source beam (124A). The multiplexer (128) receives the source beam (124A), and alternatively directs the source beam (124A) to each of the plurality of light guides (122A). The multiplexer alignment system (142) is operatively coupled to the multiplexer (128). The multiplexer alignment system (142) includes a second light source (270) that generates a probe source beam (270A) that is directed to scan across a guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A) so that a time is determined to generate the source beam (124A) so that the source beam (124A) is optically coupled to the guide proximal end (122P) of each of the plurality of light guides (122A).

Abstract: A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slidable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is longitudinally slidably connected to the housing. The actuation mechanism has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope.

Abstract: A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes the steps of (i) generating light energy with a light source; (ii) positioning a balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid; (iii) receiving the light energy from the light source with a light guide at a guide proximal end; (iv) guiding the light energy with the light guide in a first direction from the guide proximal end toward a guide distal end that is positioned within the balloon interior; and (v) optically analyzing with an optical analyzer assembly light energy from the light guide, wherein the light energy that is analyzed moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A method for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve using a catheter system (100) includes the steps of generating light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) using a light source (124); directing the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) toward at least one of a first guide proximal end (122P) of a first light guide (122A) and a second guide proximal end (122P) of a second light guide (122A); determining an alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P) of the light guides (122A) with an optical alignment system (257); and adjusting a positioning of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P) of the light guides (122A) with the optical alignment system (257) based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B).

Abstract: A catheter system for treating site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve includes a light source, a first and second light guide, and an optical alignment system. The light source generates light energy. The first and second light guides receive the light energy from the light source and have respective guide proximal ends. A multiplexer directs the light energy toward the guide proximal ends of the first and second light guides. The optical alignment system determines an alignment of the light energy relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends and adjusts the positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a blood vessel (108) includes a power source (124), a light guide (122) and a plasma target (242). In various embodiments, the light guide (122) receives power from the power source (124). The light guide (122) has a distal tip (244), and the light guide (122) emits light energy (243) in a direction away from the distal tip (244). The plasma target (242) is spaced apart from the distal tip (244) of the light guide (122) by a target gap distance (245). The plasma target (242) is configured to receive light energy (243) from the light guide (122) so that a plasma bubble (234) is generated at the plasma target (242). The power source (124) can be a laser and the light guide (122) can be an optical fiber. The catheter system (100) can also an inflatable balloon (104) that encircles the distal tip (244) of the light guide (122). The plasma target (242) can be positioned within the inflatable balloon (104).

Abstract: A method for treating a treatment site within a body of a patient with a catheter system includes generating energy with an energy source; positioning an inflatable balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the inflatable balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid; receiving energy from the energy source with an energy guide; guiding the energy with the energy guide into the balloon interior; sensing acoustic sound waves generated in the balloon fluid with an acoustic sensor that is positioned outside of the body of the patient; generating a sensor signal with the acoustic sensor based at least in part on the sensed acoustic sound waves; electrically coupling a system controller to the acoustic sensor; receiving the sensor signal from the acoustic sensor with the system controller; and controlling operation of the catheter system with the system controller based at least in part on the sensor signal, the system controller being configured to recogni

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel includes a power source, a light guide and a plasma target. In various embodiments, the light guide receives power from the power source. The light guide has a distal tip, and the light guide emits light energy in a direction away from the distal tip. The plasma target is spaced apart from the distal tip of the light guide by a target gap distance. The plasma target is configured to receive light energy from the light guide so that a plasma bubble is generated at the plasma target. The power source can be a laser and the light guide can be an optical fiber. In certain embodiments, the catheter system can also an inflatable balloon that encircles the distal tip of the light guide. The plasma target can be positioned within the inflatable balloon. The target gap distance can be greater than 1 ?m. The plasma target can have a target face that receives the light energy from the light guide.