# US 11,992,232 B2 · System for treating thrombus in body lumens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,232 B2 - Document ID: US11992232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/477,483 - Filed: 2021-09-16 - Published: 2022-04-28 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-27 - Assignees: Shockwave Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Shockwave Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Hoa Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992232B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/22012: {in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement (for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245)} - A61B 17/2202: {the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter} - A61B 17/22022: {using electric discharge} - A61B 2017/22007: {Cavitation or pseudocavitation, i.e. creation of gas bubbles generating a secondary shock wave when collapsing} - A61B 2017/22008: {used or promoted} - A61B 2017/22021: {electric leads passing through the catheter} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2017/22079: {with suction of debris} - A61B 2017/22082: {after introduction of a substance} - A61B 2017/22089: {Gas-bubbles} - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present disclosure relates generally to thrombectomy devices. An exemplary catheter comprises: a central tube; an emitter assembly mounted over the central tube, wherein the emitter assembly comprises: a conductive sheath; a first insulated wire having a first curved distal portion; and a second insulated wire having a second curved distal portion, wherein the first curved distal portion and the second curved distal portion are positioned within the conductive sheath, and wherein the emitter assembly is configured to generate a plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves when a pulsed voltage is applied to the emitter assembly; and an outer tube housing the emitter assembly, wherein the outer tube is configured to receive a conductive fluid, wherein the outer tube comprises a distal opening for releasing the plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves and the conductive fluid in a forward direction to treat thrombus at a treatment site. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter comprising: a central tube; an emitter assembly mounted over the central tube, wherein the emitter assembly comprises: a conductive sheath; a first insulated wire having a first curved distal portion; and a second insulated wire having a second curved distal portion, wherein the first curved distal portion and the second curved distal portion are positioned within the conductive sheath, and wherein the emitter assembly is configured to generate a plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves when a pulsed voltage is applied to the emitter assembly; and an outer tube housing the emitter assembly, wherein the outer tube is configured to receive a conductive fluid, wherein the outer tube comprises a distal opening for releasing the plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves and the conductive fluid in a forward direction to treat thrombus at a treatment site. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein, when the pulsed voltage is applied across the first wire and the second wire, a current is configured to: flow from the first wire to the conductive sheath to generate a first plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves and, flow from the conductive sheath to the second wire to generate a second plurality of cavitation bubbles or shockwaves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the first wire comprises a first exposed distal tip and the second wire comprises a second exposed distal tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the current is configured to flow from the first exposed tip to the conductive sheath and from the conductive sheath to the second exposed tip via a conductive fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The catheter of claim 4, wherein the current is configured to flow from the first exposed distal tip to an inner wall and/or front edge of the conductive sheath. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the central tube comprises a first segment and a second segment closer to a proximal end of the central tube than the first segment, where the diameter of the second segment is larger than the first segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein the second segment comprises a longitudinal groove for accommodating a part of the first insulated wire. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein the first curved distal portion of the first wire wraps around the first segment of the central tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the central tube comprises a central lumen for accommodating a guide wire. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein a pump is configured to deliver a continuous flow of conductive fluid to the emitter assembly through the outer tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The catheter of claim 10, wherein the conductive fluid comprises saline. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The catheter of claim 10, wherein the continuous flow of conductive fluid flushes debris away from the treatment site. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the voltage is between 800V and 2700V. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein a repetition rate of the applied voltage pulses is between approximately 4 Hz and 100 Hz. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the emitter assembly comprises a spark gap between the first curved distal portion and the conductive sheath, the spark gap being less than 0.005″. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1 wherein the first and second curved distal portions of the first and second insulated wires have a coiled configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The catheter of claim 16 wherein the first and second curved distal portions of the first and second insulated wires extend in a range from about 50 to 120 degrees about the circumference of the central tube. ### Claim 18 A catheter for treating a thrombus in a blood vessel comprising: an elongated central member; a first insulated wire extending along the central member, wherein the distal end of the first wire is partially coiled around the distal end of the central member, and wherein the distal tip of the first wire is not insulated; a second insulated wire extending along the central member, wherein the distal end of the second wire is partially coiled around the distal end of the central member, and wherein the distal tip of the second wire is not insulated; a cylindrical conductive shield positioned around and spaced from the distal ends of the first and second wires; and an outer tube surrounding the cylindrical conductive shield and having an open distal end configured so that conductive fluid injected into the proximal end of the outer tube will pass over the distal tips of the first and second wires and be directed out the distal end of the outer tube towards the thrombus and wherein when high voltage pulses are applied across the first and second wires, current will flow along the first wire and jump a first gap between the distal tip of the first wire to the cylindrical conductive shield and then along the cylindrical conductive shield and then jump a second gap between the cylindrical conductive shield and the distal tip of the second wire and back along the second wire to create, at both the first and second gaps, cavitation bubbles or shockwaves that are forwardly directed toward the thrombus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The catheter of claim 18 wherein coiled portions of the first and second wires extend in a range from about 50 to 120 degrees about the circumference of the central member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The catheter of claim 18 wherein the central member includes a lumen for accommodating a guide wire. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The catheter of claim 18 wherein the voltage of the high voltage pulses is between 800V and 2700V. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The catheter of claim 18, wherein a repetition rate of the applied high voltage pulses is between approximately 4 Hz and 100 Hz.