Multiplexer for laser-driven intravascular lithotripsy device

A method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient by generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating light energy in the form of a source beam with a single light source;
• positioning a multiplexer in a beam path of the source beam, the multiplexer including an optical element;
• receiving the source beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• directing the first guide beam to a first light guide with the multiplexer;
• and
• directing the second guide beam to a second light guide with the multiplexer;
• wherein the step of splitting includes the optical element including an input surface that is partially reflective, a rear surface, and an exit surface that is anti-reflective;
• and further includes the source beam impinging on the input surface splitting the source beam into the first guide beam that is directed toward coupling optics, and the second guide beam that is transmitted through the input surface toward the rear surface, reflects off of the rear surface and is directed through the exit surface and toward the coupling optics.

A method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient by generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating light energy in the form of a source beam with a single light source;
• positioning a multiplexer in a beam path of the source beam, the multiplexer including an optical element;
• receiving the source beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• directing the first guide beam to a first light guide with the multiplexer;
• and
• directing the second guide beam to a second light guide with the multiplexer;
• wherein the step of splitting includes the optical element being provided in the form of an etalon that is positioned in the beam path of the source beam, the etalon including a first etalon surface and a spaced apart second etalon surface;
• and further comprising the source beam impinging on the first etalon surface splitting the source beam into the first guide beam and the second guide beam;
• and
• wherein the step of splitting further includes the first etalon surface including a first region having a first reflectivity, and a second region having a second reflectivity that is different than the first reflectivity;
• and further comprising the source beam impinging on the first region of the first etalon surface reflecting a first portion of the source beam as the first guide beam, and transmitting a second portion of the source beam as the second guide beam that reflects off of the second etalon surface before being transmitted through the second region of the first etalon surface.

A method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient by generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating light energy in the form of a source beam with a single light source;
• positioning a multiplexer in a beam path of the source beam, the multiplexer including an optical element;
• receiving the source beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• directing the first guide beam to a first light guide with the multiplexer;
• and
• directing the second guide beam to a second light guide with the multiplexer;
• wherein the step of splitting includes the optical element being provided in the form of an etalon that is positioned in the beam path of the source beam, the etalon including a first etalon surface and a spaced apart second etalon surface;
• and further comprising the source beam impinging on the first etalon surface splitting the source beam into the first guide beam and the second guide beam;
• and
• wherein the step of splitting includes the multiplexer further including a second etalon that is stacked adjacent to the first etalon.

A method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient by generating a plasma that creates pressure waves adjacent to the vascular lesion, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating light energy in the form of a source beam with a single light source;
• positioning a multiplexer in a beam path of the source beam, the multiplexer including an optical element;
• receiving the source beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• splitting the source beam into a first guide beam and a second guide beam with the optical element of the multiplexer;
• directing the first guide beam to a first light guide with the multiplexer;
• and
• directing the second guide beam to a second light guide with the multiplexer;
• wherein the step of positioning includes the multiplexer further including a multiplexer stage and the optical element being provided in the form of at least one diffractive optical element that is mounted on the multiplexer stage;
• wherein the step of splitting includes one of the at least one diffractive optical element receiving the source beam from the light source and separating the source beam from the light source into at least the first guide beam that is directed to the first light guide and the second guide beam that is directed to the second light guide;
• and
• wherein each of the at least one diffractive optical element alternatively receives the source beam from the light source and separates the source beam from the light source into a different pattern of individual guide beams including at least the first guide beam and the second guide beam.