Methods and devices for cryogenic carotid body ablation

• US 9,402,677 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Inventors: Leung, Mark S., Engelman, Zoar Jacob, Grasse, Martin M., Gelfand, Mark, Levin, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giuliani, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/908,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 606 20- 26, 607/113
• 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 18/0218 with open-end cryogenic probe, e.g. for spraying fluid directly on tissue or via a tissue-contacting porous tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0293 using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle
• 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 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument

Abstract

Methods and cryogenic 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 carotid body ablation. Some methods include advancing a cryo-ablation catheter into a patient'"'"'s vasculature and ablating tissue within a carotid septum.

Claims

1. A method for cryo-ablating target tissue within a carotid septum of a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a cryo-ablation catheter into an artery of the patient, the cryo-ablation catheter comprising first and second arms;

passing the first arm into an external carotid artery of the patient and into engagement with a wall of the external carotid artery adjacent a carotid septum;

passing the second arm into an internal carotid artery of the patient and into engagement with a wall of the internal carotid artery adjacent the carotid septum; and

delivering a cryogen fluid through the first and second arms to ablate at least a portion of the carotid septum.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a cryo-ablation catheter into an artery of the patient comprises advancing the first and second arms in collapsed delivery configurations.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising retracting a sheath to cause the first and second arms to deploy to preformed delivery configurations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein retracting the sheath causes the first and second arms to deploy to preformed delivery configurations in which they extend about 30 to about 60 degrees away from an axis of the catheter.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the passing steps comprise advancing the first and second arms distally into engagement with the external and internal carotid arteries.