Elliptical element for blood pressure reduction

• US 8,923,972 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vascular Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vascular Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US11/881,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,715 Days
• Field of Search: 607/44, 623/1.1, 623/1.15
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for treating hypertension of a subject. The apparatus includes an implantable element which has a non-circular shape and which is configured to reduce the hypertension by facilitating an assumption of a non-circular shape by a blood vessel in a vicinity of a baroreceptor of the subject, during diastole of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method of reducing hypertension of a subject, comprising:

coupling a flexible element having a non-circular cross-section to a carotid artery of the subject in a vicinity of a baroreceptor of the subject, by implanting the flexible element within the carotid artery, the flexible element being configured to flex passively in coordination with the cardiac cycle; and

facilitating, with the flexible element, an assumption of a non-circular cross-sectional shape by the carotid artery in the vicinity that is less circular than a shape of the carotid artery in the vicinity when the element is not coupled to the carotid artery, wherein passive flexure of the flexible element in coordination with the cardiac cycle reduces hypertension of the subject.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising facilitating, with the element, an assumption of a cross-sectional shape by the carotid artery in the vicinity, during diastole of the subject, that is less circular than a shape of the carotid artery in the vicinity, during systole of the subject.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein implanting the element comprises implanting a stent which has a non-circular cross-section.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein implanting the element comprises placing the element inside the carotid artery on a side of the baroreceptor selected from the group consisting of:

an upstream side, and a downstream side.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the element includes a spring and implanting the element comprises coupling the spring to the carotid artery.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein implanting the element comprises coupling two elements to the carotid artery at a longitudinal separation from each other, the elements having non-circular cross-sections.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein coupling the two elements to the carotid artery comprises longitudinally spacing the two elements by between 5 mm and 20 mm.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the element includes first and second elements having non-circular cross-sections, and wherein implanting the elements comprises implanting the first element on a first side of the baroreceptor and implanting the second element on a second side of the baroreceptor, the first and second sides being respective sides selected from the group consisting of:

an upstream side and a downstream side.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein implanting the first element and the second element comprises implanting the first and second elements, the elements being coupled to each other.