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System and method for locating and identifying the functional nerves innervating the wall of arteries and catheters for same

  • US 9,014,821 B2
  • Filed: 08/24/2012
  • Issued: 04/21/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of using a catheter for mapping parasympathetic or sympathetic renal nerve for treatment of disease caused by systemic renal nerve hyperactivity, wherein said catheter comprises a shaft, wherein the proximal end of said shaft is configured to be connected to an energy source, and the distal end (catheter tip) of said shaft is in the form of a single helix, double helix or multiple prongs having one or more electrodes;

  • said mapping comprises the steps of;

    a. introducing said catheter into the lumen of a renal artery such that the tip of said catheter contacts a site on the inner renal artery wall;

    b. measuring one or more physiological parameters to obtain baseline measurements before introducing electrical current to the site, said physiological parameters are selected from the group consisting of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate;

    c. applying electrical stimulation by introducing electrical current to the site via the catheter, wherein said electrical current is controlled to be sufficient to elicit changes in said physiological parameters when there is an underlying nerve at the site;

    d. measuring said physiological parameters at a specific time interval after each electrical stimulation, wherein an increase of said physiological parameters over the baseline measurements after said electrical stimulation would indicate that a sympathetic renal nerve has been mapped at said site;

    a decrease of said physiological parameters over the baseline measurements after said electrical stimulation would indicate that a parasympathetic renal nerve has been mapped at said site; and

    e. applying radiofrequency energy through the catheter to the site identified in step (d) for ablation of the underlying nerve to treat disease caused by systemic renal nerve hyperactivity.

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