TREATMENT OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME USING RENAL NEUROMODULATION AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130144283A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Barman, Neil C.
• Application Number:
  US13/691,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20130144283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• 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 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs

Abstract

Methods for treating polycystic ovary syndrome with therapeutic renal neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. The polycystic ovary syndrome can be associated, for example, with a condition including at least one of oligo/amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and increased cardiovascular risk profile. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a renal artery of a kidney of a patient. Central sympathetic drive in the patient can thereby be reduced in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated along the afferent and/or efferent pathway. The modulation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g., a therapeutic assembly configured to cryotherapeutically cool the renal nerve or to deliver an energy field to the renal nerve.

Claims

1. A method of treating a human patient diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, comprising:

intravascularly positioning a neuromodulation assembly within a renal blood vessel of the patient and adjacent to a renal nerve of the patient;

at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a renal artery of a kidney of the patient; and

reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing expansion of, maintaining the size of, or reducing the size of an ovarian cyst in the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing the size of an ovarian cyst in the patient at least about 5% within about three months to about 12 months after at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing a number of ovarian cysts in the patient at least about 5% within about three months to about 12 months after at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing muscle sympathetic nerve activity in the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing whole body norepinephrine spillover in the patient.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes increasing insulin sensitivity in the patient.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with a condition including oligo/amenorrhea and reducing central sympathetic drive in the patient in a manner that treats the patient for the polycystic ovary syndrome includes causing resumption of menses in the patient within about three months to about 12 months after at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient includes at least partially inhibiting afferent neural activity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient includes at least partially inhibiting efferent neural activity.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least partially inhibiting sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate the renal artery of the kidney of the patient includes modulating a renal nerve of the patient via an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a neuromodulation assembly positioned at least proximate to the renal nerve.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein modulating the renal nerve includes thermally modulating the renal nerve from within the renal artery of the patient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein thermally modulating the renal nerve includes cryotherapeutically cooling the renal nerve.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein thermally modulating the renal nerve includes delivering an energy field to the renal nerve.

15. A method, comprising:

percutaneously introducing a neuromodulation assembly at a distal portion of a treatment device proximate to neural fibers innervating a kidney of a human patient diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome;

partially disrupting function of the neural fibers by applying thermal energy to the neural fibers via the neuromodulation assembly; and

removing the neuromodulation assembly from the patient after treatment;

wherein partial disruption of the function of the neural fibers therapeutically treats the diagnosed polycystic kidney disease.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising improving one or more physiological parameters corresponding to the polycystic ovary syndrome.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein improving one or more physiological parameters corresponding to the polycystic ovary syndrome includes reducing at least one of androgen levels, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, acne and hirsutism.

18. A method for treating polycystic ovary syndrome in a human patient comprising:

positioning an energy delivery element of a renal denervation catheter within a renal blood vessel of the patient and adjacent to post-ganglionic neural fibers that innervate a kidney of the patient; and

at least partially ablating a renal nerve of the patient via the energy delivery element;

wherein at least partially ablating the renal nerve results in a therapeutically beneficial reduction in one or more physiological conditions associated with polycystic ovary syndrome of the patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising administering one or more pharmaceutical drugs to the patient, wherein the pharmaceutical drugs are selected from the group consisting of antihypertensive drugs, hormone therapy drugs and anti-diabetic drugs.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the reduction in one or more physiological conditions associated with polycystic ovary syndrome includes a reduction in the number of ovarian cysts in the patient.