System for effecting and controlling oscillatory pressure within balloon catheters for fatigue fracture of calculi

A dynamic balloon angioplasty system for applying a dynamic pressure to fracture hardened materials embedded within an elastic conduit, the dynamic balloon angioplasty system comprising:

• a pressure source system configured to output at least a first predetermined pressure from a pressure source outlet, the pressure source system being selectively actuated to output a plurality of pressure pulses;
• an angioplasty unit being fluidly coupled to the pressure source outlet to receive the plurality of pressure pulses, the angioplasty unit having an angioplasty inflation device and a balloon connector operably coupled to and extending from the angioplasty inflation device, the balloon connector being configured to be connectable to an angioplasty balloon for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses to the angioplasty balloon via a fluid communication path;
• a pressure transducer operably coupled to the fluid communication path, the pressure transducer measuring a fluid pressure within the fluid communication path and outputting a pressure signal;
• and
• a power control system operably coupled to the pressure source system, the power control system configured to determine an optimal hydraulic pressure oscillation frequency for a given procedure and output a control signal to the pressure source system, the power control system further configured to accept a user-defined peak pressure value to limit a peak pressure within the angioplasty balloon, the power control system further configured to monitor the pressure signal to detect fracture of the hardened material within the elastic conduit.

A method for applying a dynamic pressure to fracture or modify hardened materials embedded within an elastic conduit, the method comprising:

• providing a high potential pressure source having a pressure source outlet;
• providing an angioplasty unit being fluidly coupled to the pressure source outlet, the angioplasty unit having a angioplasty inflation device and a balloon connector operably coupled to and extending from the angioplasty inflation device, the balloon connector being configured to be connectable to an angioplasty balloon for delivering a plurality of pressure pulses to the angioplasty balloon via a fluid communication path;
• measuring a fluid pressure within the fluid communication path and outputting a pressure signal;
• and
• determining an optimal hydraulic pressure oscillation frequency for a given procedure and outputting a control signal;
• controlling at least one of the high potential source and the angioplasty unit to deliver the plurality of pressure pulses in response to the control signal;
• and
• monitoring a pressure signal within the fluid communication path to detect fracture or modification of the hardened material within the elastic conduit or failure or leakage of the system.