Laser Pulse Shaping for Vascular Calcium Disruption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for treating vascular lesions, such as those used in intravascular lithotripsy, face challenges in efficiently converting light energy into plasma pressure waves and bubbles, which can lead to damage of the light guide due to high energy requirements and proximity to the plasma creation site.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system that includes a power source, a controller, and a light guide, where the power source generates a plurality of energy pulses that are controlled to produce a composite energy pulse with a specific shape, which is then used to generate a plasma pulse away from the light guide, thereby reducing the energy required and minimizing potential damage to the light guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high energy is used to generate plasma for treating vascular lesions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but light guide damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light energy delivery is segmented into multiple discrete pulses rather than a single high-energy pulse. This segmentation allows the total energy to be distributed over time, reducing peak intensity at the light guide tip while maintaining cumulative treatment effectiveness. The plasma generation is achieved through multiple lower-energy pulses that collectively reach the required threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The system delivers preliminary lower-energy pulses before the final plasma-generating pulse. These preliminary pulses prepare the tissue environment and gradually build up energy deposition, allowing the subsequent plasma event to occur with reduced peak energy requirements, thereby protecting the light guide from damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If short pulse duration is used to create plasma, then treatment precision is improved, but conversion efficiency of light energy to pressure wave decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment employs periodic pulsed delivery of light energy with multiple pulses spaced in time. This periodic action allows each pulse to contribute to plasma formation and pressure wave generation, with the cumulative effect achieving both precision (through short individual pulse durations) and efficiency (through multiple pulses allowing energy accumulation and conversion).
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple pulses create a continuous useful action of energy deposition and plasma formation. Rather than a single discontinuous event, the sequential pulses maintain continuous interaction with the tissue, improving overall energy conversion efficiency while preserving the precision benefits of short pulse durations through their collective effect.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catheter system effectively treats vascular lesions by generating pressure waves that can fracture lesions with reduced energy input and minimized risk of light guide damage, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
The power source generates a plurality of energy pulses that may combine to produce a composite energy pulse
Implementation Method 2
Creation of a plasma via optical breakdown of an aqueous solution typically requires a significant amount of energy in a short amount of time
Implementation Method 3
Creation of a plasma via optical breakdown of an aqueous solution typically requires a significant amount of energy in a short amount of time upon which it is converted into a therapeutic bubble and/or a therapeutic pressure wave
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A catheter system (100) includes a power source (124), a controller (123), and a light guide (122). The power source (124) generates a plurality of energy pulses (242B, 342B). The controller (123) controls the power source (124) so that the plurality of energy pulses (242B, 342A-B) cooperate to produce a composite energy pulse (348A-B, 448A-C, 548A-F) having a composite pulse shape. The light guide (122) receives the composite energy pulse (348A-B, 448A-C, 548A-F). The light guide (122) emits light energy in a direction away from the light guide (122) to generate a plasma pulse (246A-B, 346A-B) away from the light guide (122). The power source (124) can be a laser and the light guide (122) can be an optical fiber. Each of the energy pulses (242B, 342A-B) has a pulse width, and the energy pulses (242B, 342A-B) are added to one another so that the composite energy pulse (348A-B, 448A-C, 548A-F) has a pulse width that is longer than the pulse width of any one of the energy pulses (242B, 342A-B). At least two of the energy pulses (242B, 342A-B) can have the same wavelength as or a different wavelength from one another.