Endovascular catheters and methods for carotid body ablation

• US 9,757,180 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cibiem, Inc.
• Inventors: Gelfand, Mark, Levin, Howard, Lennox, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US15/214,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20160324563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 606 21, 606 41, 607 9, 607 99, 607116
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• 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 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0293 using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for treating a patient having a sympathetically mediated disease associated at least in part with augmented peripheral chemoreflex or heightened sympathetic activation. The treatments include ablating one or more peripheral chemoreceptors or associated afferent nerves to reduce or remove afferent neural signals from the peripheral chemoreceptor.

Claims

1. An ablation method for ablating target tissue within a carotid septum of a patient, the method comprising:

endovascularly positioning a distal region of an ablation catheter proximate a carotid septum;

deploying an ablation needle from an ablation catheter, piercing tissue with the needle, and positioning the needle into the carotid septum; and

delivering an ablation agent through the ablation needle and into the carotid septum, to ablate tissue within the carotid septum and treat at least one of hypertension, heart failure, and central sleep apnea.

2. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein the endovascularly positioning step comprises endovascularly positioning the distal region of the ablation catheter in a common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, or external carotid artery.

3. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein the endovascularly positioning step comprises endovascularly positioning the distal region of the ablation catheter proximate a carotid bifurcation.

4. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein the deploying step comprises deploying the ablation needle from a distal end of the distal region of the ablation catheter.

5. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein the delivering step comprises delivering guanethidine through the ablation needle and into the carotid septum.

6. The ablation method of claim 1, further comprising injecting a chemical to temporarily block or stimulate nerves in or near the carotid septum, at least one of before or after ablating the tissue, as part of an ablation assessment.

7. The ablation method of claim 1, further comprising, stabilizing the ablation catheter within a lumen.

8. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein piercing tissue with the needle comprises piercing the ablation needle through a carotid bifurcation and into the carotid septum.

9. The ablation method of claim 8, further comprising positioning a first au into an external carotid artery and positioning a second arm into an internal carotid artery, wherein positioning the first and second arms in the respective carotid arteries assists in positioning a distal end of the catheter at the carotid bifurcation and adds stability to the catheter, and wherein the deploying step comprises deploying the ablation needle from the distal end of the catheter.

10. The ablation method of claim 1, wherein deploying the ablation needle comprises deploying an ablation needle that comprises a curved portion.