Medical devices for modulating nerves

• US 9,693,821 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Squire, Robert N., Hanson, Cass A., Quillin, Daniel T., Sutermeister, Derek C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US14/194,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• 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 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00505 Urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for modulating nerves. The medical device may include an elongate shaft having a distal region. A balloon may be coupled to the distal region. An electrode may be disposed within the balloon. A virtual electrode may be defined on the balloon. The virtual electrode may include a region having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer.

Claims

1. A medical device for modulating nerves, the medical device comprising:

an elongate shaft having a distal region;

a balloon coupled to the distal region, the balloon having an inner conductive layer, an outer conductive layer, and an intermediate non-conductive layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer;

an electrode disposed within the balloon; and

a virtual electrode defined on the balloon, the virtual electrode including a conductive region defined along a first portion of the balloon that comprises the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer and is free of the intermediate non-conductive layer.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the outer conductive layer covers the entire balloon.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the outer conductive layer covers only a portion of the balloon.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate non-conductive layer has a substantially constant thickness.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electrode includes a coil electrode helically disposed about the shaft.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional virtual electrodes.

7. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a conductive fluid disposed within the balloon.

8. A medical device for modulating nerves, the medical device comprising:

an elongate shaft having a distal region and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet proximate the distal region;

a balloon coupled to the distal region, the balloon having an inner conductive layer, an outer conductive layer, and an intermediate non-conductive layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer;

a helically wound electrode disposed along the elongate shaft and within the balloon; and

a virtual electrode defined on the balloon, the virtual electrode including a conductive region defined along a first portion of the balloon that comprises the inner conductive layer and the outer conductive layer and is free of the intermediate non-conductive layer.

9. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the outer conductive layer covers the entire balloon.

10. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the outer conductive layer covers a portion of the balloon.

11. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the intermediate non-conductive layer has a substantially constant thickness.

12. The medical device of claim 8, further comprising one or more additional virtual electrodes.

13. The medical device of claim 8, further comprising a conductive fluid disposed within the balloon.

14. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the inner the outer layers comprise a hydrophilic polymer.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the hydrophilic polymer exhibits between 20% and 120% water uptake.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the inner and outer layers comprise a hydrophilic polymer selected from a hydrophilic polyurethane, a hydrophilic polyether block amide, a hydrophilic nylon and a hydrophilic polyester.