Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon.

Abstract: 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.

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 catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption includes a balloon coupled to an elongate shaft, and a first and second light guide disposed along the elongate shaft. The first and second light guides each include a diverting feature in optical communication with at least one light window to direct light to exit each light guide toward a side surface portion thereof and toward the balloon. A method includes expanding the balloon from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration, and activating a light source in optical communication with each light guide to provide sub-millisecond pulses of light to the diverting features, thereby inducing plasma formation in a balloon fluid, causing rapid bubble formation, and imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a vascular lesion. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a treatment site. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (208A) or a heart valve within a body (107) of a patient (109) 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) includes a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) can be 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 bubbles (134) are formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The tissue identification system (142) can be configured to acoustically analyze tissue within the treatment site (106).

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 includes a power source, a controller, and a light guide. The power source generates a plurality of energy pulses. The controller controls the power source so that the plurality of energy pulses cooperate to produce a composite energy pulse having a composite pulse shape. The light guide receives the composite energy pulse. The light guide emits light energy in a direction away from the light guide to generate a plasma pulse away from the light guide. The power source can be a laser and the light guide can be an optical fiber. Each of the energy pulses has a pulse width, and the energy pulses are added to one another so that the composite energy pulse has a pulse width that is longer than the pulse width of any one of the energy pulses. At least two of the energy pulses can have the same wavelength as or a different wavelength from one another.

Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a treatment site. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

Abstract: A catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption at a treatment site includes a catheter including an elongate shaft and balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The catheter system includes a light guide disposed along the elongate shaft and at least partially within the balloon, where the light guide is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. The catheter can include a first focusing element located at a distal portion of the light guide and in optical communication with the light source. The first focusing element can direct light from within the light guide to a first location at a first distance away from the distal portion of the light guide to initiate plasma formation in the balloon fluid away from the distal portion and to cause rapid bubble formation, thereby imparting pressure waves at the treatment site.

Abstract: A catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption includes a balloon coupled to an elongate shaft, and a first and second light guide disposed along the elongate shaft. The first and second light guides each include a diverting feature in optical communication with at least one light window to direct light to exit each light guide toward a side surface portion thereof and toward the balloon. A method includes expanding the balloon from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration, and activating a light source in optical communication with each light guide to provide sub-millisecond pulses of light to the diverting features, thereby inducing plasma formation in a balloon fluid, causing rapid bubble formation, and imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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. The first light guide can include a first light window at a distal portion of the first light guide.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing contextual content along with elements within an application are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes icon logic configured to generate, in response to detecting a selection of a page element, an icon that indicates whether contextual content associated with the page element is available. The page element is a display element of a graphical user interface (GUI) for an application. The apparatus includes context logic configured to generate a context panel in response to detecting an input associated with the icon. The context logic is configured to generate the context panel with a first tab and a second tab. The first tab includes a description of the page element and the second tab includes a set of comments from users about the page element.