Methods and devices for renal nerve blocking

• US 6,978,174 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ardian, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Levin, Howard R., Gelfand, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/900,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/131, 604/151, 604/522
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treatment of cardiac and renal diseases associated with the elevated sympathetic renal nerve activity by implanting a device to block the renal nerve signals to and from the kidney. The device can be a drug pump eluting implant for targeted delivery of a nerve-blocking agent to the periarterial space of the renal artery.

Claims

1. A method for at least partially blocking a renal nerve of a kidney of a human patient for the purpose of treating a cardiorenal disease comprising:

a. implanting a drug delivery catheter in a periarterial space of the kidney;

b. implanting a drug infusion pump in the body of the patient;

c. connecting the drug infusion pump to the said catheter; and

d. delivering a nerve-blocking agent to the periarterial space.

2. A method as in claim 1 including an additional step of applying an electric charge to the implanted catheter to determine the effectiveness of the blocking of the renal nerve.

3. A method as in claim 2 where the electric charge is applied by the drug infusion pump.

4. A method as in claim 1 where the nerve-blocking agent is selected from the group consisting of a local anesthetic, ketamine, tricyclic antidepressant and neurotoxin.

5. A method as in claim 1 where the nerve-blocking agent is combined with a steroid.

6. A method for at least partially blocking a renal nerve of a kidney of a human patient for the purpose of treating a cardiorenal disease comprising:

a. implanting a drug delivery device in a periarterial space of the kidney; and

b. delivering a nerve-blocking drug to the periarterial space.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the drug delivery device comprises a drug delivery catheter.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the catheter is implanted in the renal fatpad.

9. A method as in claim 7 where the catheter implanted in the periarterial space is made of a porous material permeable to the nerve-blocking agent.

10. A method as in claim 7 where the catheter is coiled around the renal artery.

11. A method as in claim 7 where the catheter is made of a porous material adapted to receive ingrowth of tissue.

12. A method as in claim 6 where the step of delivering a nerve-blocking drug to the periarterial space is performed periodically.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the drug delivery device comprises a drug eluting device.

14. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device is a biodegradable polymeric matrix.

15. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device comprises a biodegradable gel.

16. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device comprises microspheres.

17. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device is shaped to surround the renal artery.

18. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device comprises osmotic pump.

19. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device comprises self forming biodegradable compound.

20. A method as in claim 6 where the nerve-blocking drug is combined with a steroid.

21. A method as in claim 13 where the implantable drug eluting device comprises a patch on the renal artery.

22. A method as in claim 6 where the nerve-blocking drug is selected from the group consisting of a local anesthetic, ketamine, tricyclic antidepressant and neurotoxin.

23. A method for reducing myocardial infarct expansion by at least partially blocking a renal nerve of a kidney of a human patient comprising the steps of:

a. implanting a drug eluting device in a periarterial space of the kidney; and

b. delivering a nerve-blocking drug to the periarterial space.

24. A method for reducing myocardial infarct expansion by at least partially blocking a renal nerve of a kidney of a human patient comprising:

a. implanting a drug delivery catheter in a periarterial space of the kidney;

b. implanting a drug infusion port in the body of the patient;

c. connecting the drug infusion pump to the said port; and

d. delivering a nerve-blocking agent to the periarterial space.

25. A method for reducing myocardial infarct expansion by at least partially blocking a renal nerve of a kidney of a human patient comprising:

a. injecting a nerve blocking drug into a periarterial space of the kidney;

b. blocking the renal nerve for the duration of action of the nerve blocking drug; and

c. repeating steps a and b for the duration of the infarct expansion.