RF renal denervation catheter with multiple independent electrodes
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a catheter comprising a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length, the length of the shaft sufficient to access a patient'"'"'s renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location;
a plurality of elongated resilient members each comprising a pre-formed curve and extendable beyond the distal end of the catheter, the resilient members constrained to a low profile when encompassed by a wall of a removable sheath or a lumen wall of the shaft and, when removed from the removable sheath or lumen of the shaft, expanding outwardly and assuming a shape of the pre-formed curve, each of the plurality of elongated resilient members including a front side and opposite back side, and an electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member; and
an electrode assembly provided at a distal end of each of the resilient members, each of the electrode assemblies comprising;
a curved protruding electrode element disposed over the resilient member and only on the front side of the member, wherein the electrode element protrudes laterally from only a front side of the resilient member, its curvature defining a void, the curved electrode element coupled to the electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member and into the void defined by the curved electrode element; and
a thermal sensor situated within the void defined by the curved electrode element, the thermal sensor in thermal communication with the electrode element;
the resilient members having a stiffness sufficient to maintain contact between the electrode elements and an inner wall of the renal artery including irregularities of the inner wall of the renal artery.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter includes a flexible shaft having a length sufficient to access a patient'"'"'s renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location. The catheter includes a multiplicity of elongated resilient members each comprising a pre-formed curve and extendable beyond the catheter. The resilient members are constrained to a low profile when encompassed by a removable sheath, and expand outwardly to assume a pre-defined shape when removed from the sheath. An electrode assembly is provided at a distal end of each resilient member, and includes an electrode element coupled to an electrical conductor and a thermal sensor in thermal communication with the electrode element. The resilient members have a stiffness sufficient to maintain contact between the electrode elements and an inner wall of the renal artery including irregularities of the inner wall of the renal artery during ablation of perivascular renal nerve tissue.
1499 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a catheter comprising a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length, the length of the shaft sufficient to access a patient'"'"'s renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location; a plurality of elongated resilient members each comprising a pre-formed curve and extendable beyond the distal end of the catheter, the resilient members constrained to a low profile when encompassed by a wall of a removable sheath or a lumen wall of the shaft and, when removed from the removable sheath or lumen of the shaft, expanding outwardly and assuming a shape of the pre-formed curve, each of the plurality of elongated resilient members including a front side and opposite back side, and an electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member; and an electrode assembly provided at a distal end of each of the resilient members, each of the electrode assemblies comprising; a curved protruding electrode element disposed over the resilient member and only on the front side of the member, wherein the electrode element protrudes laterally from only a front side of the resilient member, its curvature defining a void, the curved electrode element coupled to the electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member and into the void defined by the curved electrode element; and a thermal sensor situated within the void defined by the curved electrode element, the thermal sensor in thermal communication with the electrode element; the resilient members having a stiffness sufficient to maintain contact between the electrode elements and an inner wall of the renal artery including irregularities of the inner wall of the renal artery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a catheter comprising a flexible shaft; a plurality of elongated resilient members each comprising a pre-formed curve and extendable beyond a distal end of the catheter, the resilient members constrained to a low profile when encompassed by a wall of a removable sheath or a lumen wall of the shaft and, when removed from the removable sheath or lumen of the shaft, expanding outwardly and assuming a shape of the pre-formed curve, each of the plurality of elongated resilient members including a front side and opposite back side, and an electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member; and an electrode assembly provided at a distal end of each of the resilient members, each of the electrode assemblies comprising; a curved protruding electrode element disposed over the resilient member and only on the front side of the member, wherein the electrode element protrudes laterally from only the front side of the resilient member, its curvature defining a void, the curved electrode element coupled to the electrical conductor extending along the elongated resilient member and into the void defined by the curved electrode element; and a thermal sensor situated within the void defined by the curved electrode element, the thermal sensor in thermal communication with the electrode element; the resilient members having a stiffness sufficient to maintain contact between the electrode elements and an inner wall of a target vessel of the body including irregularities of the inner wall of the target vessel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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constraining a plurality of resilient electrode assemblies each supported by one of a plurality of elongated support members to a low profile configuration within a removable sheath or a lumen of a catheter shaft, wherein each of the electrode assemblies has a front side and opposite back side and includes; a curved protruding electrode element disposed over the elongated support member and only on the front side of the member, wherein the electrode element protrudes laterally from only the front side of the support member, its curvature defining a void, the curved electrode element coupled to an electrical conductor extending along the elongated support member and into the void defined by the curved electrode element; and a thermal sensor situated within the void defined by the curved electrode element, the thermal sensor in thermal communication with the electrode element; moving the electrode assemblies and elongated support members free of the sheath or catheter shaft lumen within a target vessel to allow the electrode assemblies to assume a pre-formed curved shape and expand outwardly to contact an inner wall of the target vessel; resiliently maintaining contact between each electrode assembly and the inner wall of the target vessel including irregularities of the inner wall of the target vessel by the stiffness of the resilient members; and ablating target tissue using the electrode assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification