Minimally invasive access for renal nerve ablation
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- inserting an elongated flexible medical device into a patient'"'"'s body via a natural orifice;
wherein the natural orifice includes a urethra;
advancing the medical device through the urethra, through the bladder, and through a ureter to a location proximate innervated tissue that influences renal sympathetic nerve activity; and
delivering energy from a distal end of the medical device to one or both of image and ablate the innervated tissue.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An elongated flexible medical device is inserted into a patient'"'"'s body via a natural orifice, and advanced through the natural orifice to a location proximate innervated tissue that influences renal sympathetic nerve activity. The medical device can be advanced into a body organ and to a location within the organ proximate the innervated tissue. The organ may comprise an organ of the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract. The medical device may be advanced through and beyond an access hole in a wall of the organ, and situated at a location proximate the innervated tissue. One or both of imaging and ablation energy is delivered from a distal end of the medical device to the innervated tissue. Innervated renal tissue can be ablated using various forms of energy, including RF energy, ultrasound energy, optical energy, and thermal energy.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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inserting an elongated flexible medical device into a patient'"'"'s body via a natural orifice; wherein the natural orifice includes a urethra; advancing the medical device through the urethra, through the bladder, and through a ureter to a location proximate innervated tissue that influences renal sympathetic nerve activity; and delivering energy from a distal end of the medical device to one or both of image and ablate the innervated tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 12)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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an elongated flexible medical device configured for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body via a natural orifice, the medical device being configured for and having a length sufficient for advancement through a urethra, through a bladder, and through a ureter to a position adjacent to a renal artery proximate innervated tissue that influences renal sympathetic nerve activity via an internal body pathway of the patient; and an energy delivery device provided at a distal end of the medical device and configured to communicate energy to the location at or proximate the innervated tissue to one or both of image and ablate the innervated tissue. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification