Renal neuromodulation for treatment of patients

• US 9,757,192 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Levin, Howard R., Gelfand, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US15/073,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 607 2, 607116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• 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 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3627 Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1082 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• 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 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 : Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.

Claims

1. A method of treating a human patient diagnosed with at least one of heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, renal disease, or chronic renal failure, the method comprising:

positioning an electrode within a renal blood vessel and proximate to post-ganglionic neural fibers that innervate a kidney of the patient; and

generating an electric field via the electrode such that at least a portion of the neural fibers are in the electric field,

wherein the electric field reduces neural communication along the neural fibers and significantly improves a measureable physiological parameter corresponding to the disease of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning an electrode within a renal blood vessel and proximate to post-ganglionic neural fibers comprises placing the electrode in a renal artery of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating an electric field comprises generating a monopolar electric field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating an electric field via the electrode comprises generating a bipolar electric field.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is a first electrode, and wherein the method further comprises positioning a second electrode within the renal blood vessel and proximate to the post-ganglionic neural fibers, and wherein generating an electric field comprises generating a bipolar electric field between the first and second electrodes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating an electric field via the electrode such that at least a portion of the neural fibers are in the electric field comprises at least partially ablating the neural fibers via the electric field.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating an electric field via the electrode comprises generating a radio frequency (RF) electric field.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein comprises positioning the electrode in contact with an inner wall of a renal artery of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the electrode from the patient after generating the electric field.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring at least one condition of the patient with a sensor during therapy.

11. A method for treating a human patient, the method comprising:

intravascularly positioning a catheter carrying one or more electrodes within a renal artery and proximate to renal nerves innervating a kidney of the patient; and

generating an electric field via the one or more electrodes,

wherein the electric field completely blocks neural signal traffic along the renal nerves to and from the kidney,

wherein completely blocking neural signal traffic results in a therapeutically beneficial reduction in central sympathetic nervous system overactivity of the patient.