Catheter Apparatuses Having Expandable Mesh Structures for Renal Neuromodulation and Associated Systems and Methods

• US 20150126997A1
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Griswold, Erik, Zarins, Denise, Beetel, Robert J., Aboytes, Maria G.
• Application Number:
  US14/598,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20150126997A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• 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 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/003 Destruction of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

Catheter apparatuses having expandable mesh structures and associated systems and methods for intravascular renal neuromodulation are disclosed herein. A catheter treatment device includes an expandable mesh structure configured to position an energy delivery element in contact with a renal artery via an intravascular path. The mesh structure can assume an expanded configuration for direct and/or indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function. A collapsed configuration may facilitate insertion and/or removal of the catheter or repositioning of the energy delivery element within the renal artery.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A catheter apparatus for intravascular modulation of renal nerves, the catheter apparatus comprising:

an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

an expandable mesh structure disposed proximate to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the mesh structure is movable between a collapsed delivery configuration and a deployed configuration;

at least one energy delivery element carried by the mesh structure; and

a fluid redirecting element attached to one or both of the elongated shaft or the mesh structure and disposed within at least a portion of the mesh structure.

52. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein:

the mesh structure comprises a first expandable mesh structure having a first largest diameter; and

the fluid redirecting element comprises a second expandable mesh structure having a second largest diameter smaller than the first largest diameter when both the first and the second mesh structures are in a fully expanded configuration.

53. The catheter apparatus of claim 52 wherein the first mesh structure has a first mesh density and the second mesh structure has a second mesh density greater than the first mesh density.

54. The catheter apparatus of claim 52 wherein the fluid redirecting element comprises a porous structure having pores that permit at least some fluid to flow through the fluid redirecting element.

55. The catheter apparatus of claim 54 wherein the porous structure comprises a porous foam or porous polymer.

56. The catheter apparatus of claim 54 wherein the porous structure is configured to swell within the mesh structure when the porous structure is filled with fluid.

57. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein the fluid redirecting element comprises a resilient material.

58. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein the fluid redirecting element comprises surface features configured to direct the flow of fluid through the mesh structure.

59. The catheter apparatus of claim 58 wherein the surface features comprise fins, protrusions, rifling, ribs, grooves, or channels.

60. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein the mesh structure has a first length along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the fluid redirecting element has a second length along the longitudinal axis that is more than 50% of the first length.

61. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein the fluid redirecting element has a largest diameter of about 3 mm or less.

62. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein an axis through the energy delivery element and substantially orthogonal to an axis of the elongated shaft intersects the fluid redirecting element.

63. The catheter apparatus of claim 62, further comprising a second energy delivery element associated with the mesh structure, wherein an axis through the second energy delivery element and substantially orthogonal to the axis of the elongated shaft intersects the fluid redirecting element.

64. The catheter apparatus of claim 51 wherein the fluid redirecting element comprises a lumen or receptacle configured to receive a guide wire.

65-75. -75. (canceled)