Devices and methods to center pressure wave generators within a segmented balloon

A catheter for an intravascular or other lithotripsy (“IVL”) system, comprising:

• an elongate member comprising:
• a distal region disposed along a distal portion of the elongate member, and
• one or more pairs of regions longitudinally spaced apart from each other and disposed along a portion of the elongate member that is proximal to the distal region, wherein each one of the one or more pairs of regions are longitudinally spaced apart from each other by an intermediate region;
• wherein the distal region and the intermediate region are more flexible than the one or more pairs of regions.

A segmented balloon system for an intravascular or other lithotripsy (“IVL”) system, comprising:

• an elongate member;
• and
• two or more segmented balloons configured to surround a portion of the elongate member in a watertight association with the elongate member, each of the two or more segmented balloons being spaced longitudinally from an adjacent segmented balloon or enclosure by an interposed section comprising an outer diameter when inflated;
• wherein each of the segmented balloons comprises a tapered proximal section, a middle cylindrical section comprising an outer diameter when inflated that is greater than the outer diameter of the interposed section when inflated, and a tapered distal section.