Methods and apparatus for performing a non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen
First Claim
1. An apparatus for renal neuromodulation, the apparatus comprising:
- a catheter configured for intravascular placement within a renal blood vessel of a human patient;
an expandable balloon at a distal portion of the catheter, wherein the expandable balloon is configured to vary between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration sized to fit within the renal blood vessel;
a first electrode having a first pair of bipolar contacts attached to the expandable balloon; and
a second electrode having a second pair of bipolar contacts attached to the expandable balloon,wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart lengthwise and angularly offset from one another when the expandable balloon is in the deployed configuration,wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to deliver thermal energy to less than a full circumference of the renal blood vessel of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for renal neuromodulation, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter configured for intravascular placement within a renal blood vessel of a human patient; an expandable balloon at a distal portion of the catheter, wherein the expandable balloon is configured to vary between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration sized to fit within the renal blood vessel; a first electrode having a first pair of bipolar contacts attached to the expandable balloon; and a second electrode having a second pair of bipolar contacts attached to the expandable balloon, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart lengthwise and angularly offset from one another when the expandable balloon is in the deployed configuration, wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode is configured to deliver thermal energy to less than a full circumference of the renal blood vessel of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification