Balloon catheter apparatus for renal neuromodulation
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a renal denervation catheter configured for intravascular delivery to a target site within a renal artery of a human patient;
a balloon at a distal region of the catheter, wherein the balloon is transformable between a low-profile delivery state and a deployed state sized and shaped to fit within the renal artery; and
a plurality of electrodes attached to the balloon,wherein, when the balloon is in the deployed state, each electrode occupies a distinct longitudinal position and a distinct radial position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the balloon,wherein each electrode comprises a pair of bipolar contacts and is part of a flex circuit on a surface of the balloon,wherein, during therapy, the electrodes are configured to deliver radio frequency (RF) energy in a bipolar fashion to renal nerves adjacent the target site to achieve at least partial renal denervation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.
1335 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a renal denervation catheter configured for intravascular delivery to a target site within a renal artery of a human patient; a balloon at a distal region of the catheter, wherein the balloon is transformable between a low-profile delivery state and a deployed state sized and shaped to fit within the renal artery; and a plurality of electrodes attached to the balloon, wherein, when the balloon is in the deployed state, each electrode occupies a distinct longitudinal position and a distinct radial position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the balloon, wherein each electrode comprises a pair of bipolar contacts and is part of a flex circuit on a surface of the balloon, wherein, during therapy, the electrodes are configured to deliver radio frequency (RF) energy in a bipolar fashion to renal nerves adjacent the target site to achieve at least partial renal denervation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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a renal denervation catheter sized and shaped for intravascular placement within a renal artery of a human patient; an elongate inflatable balloon at a distal portion of the catheter, wherein the inflatable balloon is transformable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration sized to fit within the renal artery; and a plurality of electrodes attached to the inflatable balloon, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode each occupy a distinct longitudinal position and a distinct radial position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inflatable balloon, wherein the first and second electrodes are part of a first flex circuit and a second flex circuit, respectively, attached to the balloon, and wherein the first flex circuit terminates at the first electrode and the second flex circuit terminates at the second electrode, wherein, when the inflatable balloon is in the deployed configuration, the first electrode and the second electrode are circumferentially disposed about the inflatable balloon and each configured to deliver thermal radio frequency (RF) energy in a bipolar fashion to produce first and second treatment zones, respectively, along a common lengthwise segment of the renal artery without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion about a radial plane normal to an inner wall of the renal artery. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification