Endovascular catheters and methods for carotid body ablation

• US 10,219,855 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Inventors: Gelfand, Mark, Levin, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Giuliani, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/677,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20170367749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 606 41, 607 99, 607101, 607113, 607115, 607116, 607119, 607122, 607126
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/0218 with open-end cryogenic probe, e.g. for spraying fluid directly on tissue or via a tissue-contacting porous tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0293 using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for treating a patient having a sympathetically mediated disease associated at least in part with augmented peripheral chemoreflex or heightened sympathetic activation. The treatments include ablating one or more peripheral chemoreceptors or associated afferent nerves to reduce or remove afferent neural signals from the peripheral chemoreceptor.

Claims

1. A method of ablating at least one of a carotid body and afferent carotid body nerves, comprising:

positioning an elongate medical device proximate a carotid artery bifurcation, the elongate medical device including an ablation element;

positioning a distal protection member in an internal carotid artery, the distal protection member extending from an internal lumen within the elongate medical device, the distal protection member having a distal end region carrying a distal protection element;

wherein positioning the distal protection member in the internal carotid artery comprises positioning a shaft in the internal carotid artery, wherein the shaft extends from the internal lumen within the elongate medical device, and wherein the distal protection element comprises a balloon carried by the shaft, wherein the balloon does not carry an energy delivery element thereon;

deploying the distal protection element to a deployed configuration in the internal carotid artery to prevent emboli from traveling downstream of the deployed distal protection element;

delivering ablation energy towards at least one of the carotid body and afferent carotid body nerves using the ablation element, the ablation element having been positioned in a carotid artery; and

ablating the carotid body or afferent carotid body nerves with the ablation energy to treat at least one of hypertension, heart failure, and sleep apnea.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering ablation energy comprises delivering ablation energy towards at least one of the carotid body and afferent carotid body nerves using the ablation element that has been positioned in the internal carotid artery.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivering step comprises delivering ablation energy towards at least one of the carotid body and afferent carotid body nerves using the ablation element, which is carried by the elongate medical device.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the ablation element is an electrode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising deflecting the elongate medical device into contact with the internal carotid artery.