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Precision electrode movement control for renal nerve ablation

  • US 9,358,365 B2
  • Filed: 07/30/2011
  • Issued: 06/07/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a catheter comprising a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a length, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the length of the flexible shaft sufficient to access a patient'"'"'s renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location;

    a flexible actuation member provided within the lumen and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the shaft, the flexible actuation member moveable within the lumen of the flexible shaft and subject to one or more of elastic deformation, friction, and whip along its length during movement within the flexible shaft'"'"'s lumen;

    a flexible support member coupled to a distal end of the flexible actuation member and extendible beyond a distal tip of the flexible shaft and into a lumen of the renal artery;

    an electrode provided at a distal end of the flexible support member and configured to contact an inner wall of the renal artery and deliver high frequency AC energy sufficient to ablate perivascular renal nerve tissue proximate the electrode, the flexible support member configured to urge the electrode into contact with the inner wall of the renal artery; and

    a position converter provided at the distal end of the flexible shaft and coupled to the distal end of the flexible actuation member and a proximal end of the flexible support member, the position converter configured to convert movement of the flexible actuation member into at least controlled rotational movement of the flexible support member and the electrode to one of a plurality of stable circumferential positions substantially free of the one or more of elastic deformation, friction, and whip impacting the flexible actuation member movement;

    wherein the position converter is configured to convert movement of the actuation member into controller axial movement of the flexible support member and the electrode to one of a plurality of stable axial positions.

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