Elliptical element for blood pressure reduction

• US 9,550,048 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vascular Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vascular Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US13/116,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 607/44, 623/1.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for treating hypertension of a subject. The apparatus includes an implantable element which has a non-circular shape and which is configured to reduce the hypertension by facilitating an assumption of a non-circular shape by a blood vessel in a vicinity of a baroreceptor of the subject, during diastole of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a subject as suffering from a condition related to hypertension; and

in response thereto;

stretching a carotid artery of the subject in a vicinity of baroreceptors to treat the condition related to hypertension with signals transmitted from the baroreceptors, between a plurality of three or more separate regions of the carotid artery, by applying forces to the three or more separate regions of the carotid artery, by placing an element inside the subject'"'"'s carotid artery, which element is configured to flex passively in coordination with the cardiac cycle, the element defining three or more longitudinally extending vessel-contacting regions that apply the forces to the three or more separate regions, the element comprising ends coupling the three or more longitudinally extending vessel contact regions extending therebetween,

the placing of the element inside the subject'"'"'s carotid artery being such that, during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle of the subject, three or more corresponding portions of the carotid artery that are between the regions do not contact the element and wherein passive flexure of the element in coordination with the cardiac cycle treats the condition related to hypertension with signals transmitted from the baroreceptors.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing plaque from the carotid artery in the vicinity of the baroreceptor, wherein placing the element inside the subject'"'"'s carotid artery comprises placing the element subsequent to removing the plaque.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying the forces comprises applying forces to two opposing regions of the carotid artery.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the element includes a stent that has a non-circular cross-section, and wherein placing the element inside the carotid artery comprises placing the stent inside the carotid artery.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the element includes a flexible element, and wherein placing the element inside the carotid artery comprises placing the flexible element inside the carotid artery.