Percutaneous methods and devices for carotid body ablation

• US 9,398,930 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Inventors: Leung, Mark, Schleicher, Brett, Lennox, Charles, Chernomorsky, Ary, Engelman, Zoar Jacob, Fudim, Marat, Grasse, Martin M., Gelfand, Mark, Levin, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/908,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0293 using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0463 against cooling or freezing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0891 for diagnosis of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/145 characterised by scanning multiple planes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Methods and percutaneous devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via percutaneous carotid body ablation.

Claims

1. A method of cryo-ablating a carotid septum and protecting tissue, comprising

positioning a cryo-ablation element within a carotid septum;

positioning a warming element distal to the cryo-ablation element;

activating the cryo-ablation element and ablating carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element by reducing the temperature of the carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element;

warming tissue proximate the warming element by activating the warming element to prevent the tissue proximate the warming element from being reduced as much as the carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises providing a cryo-ablation device that supports the cryo-ablation element and the warming element, the warming element disposed distal to the cryo-ablation element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein activating the cryo-ablation element comprises delivering a cryogen fluid through the cryo-ablation element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the carotid septum before the positioning steps.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the skin in the neck to create an access path to the carotid septum.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising advancing a cryo-ablation device into the patient via the access point, the cryo-ablation device comprising the cryo-ablation element and the warming element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the cryo-ablation element within a carotid septum comprises positioning the cryo-ablation element adjacent a carotid body and between an external carotid artery and an internal carotid artery.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein positioning the warming element distal to the cryo-ablation element comprises positioning the warming element closer to a sympathetic nerve than the cryo-ablation element.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising imaging the carotid body before either activating step.