Patient selection using a transluminally-applied electric current
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- transluminally advancing a distal portion of a longitudinal member of a device into a renal artery of a subject;
operating the device to drive an electrode disposed on the distal portion of the longitudinal member to apply a non-ablative electrical current to nerve tissue of the renal artery;
receiving (i) a first value, the first value being indicative of a blood pressure of the subject before a start of the application of the current, and (ii) a second value, the second value being indicative of the blood pressure of the subject after a start of the application of the current;
determining if a difference between the first value and the second value is smaller than a threshold difference; and
in response to the determining, selecting the subject for performance or non-performance of ablation of a renal artery of the subject, wherein selecting comprises;
if the determined difference is greater than the threshold difference, operating the device to apply ablation energy to the renal artery;
whereasif the determined difference is smaller than the threshold difference, withdrawing the longitudinal member from the subject without having applied ablation energy to the renal artery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for facilitating ablation of nerve tissue of a subject is provided, comprising (1) an ablation unit, configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a first portion of the nerve tissue; (2) at least one electrode unit, coupled to the ablation unit, and configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a second portion of the nerve tissue, and to initiate unidirectional action potentials in the nerve tissue, such that the unidirectional action potentials propagate toward the first portion of the nerve tissue; and (3) a control unit, configured: (a) to drive the ablation unit to ablate, at least in part, the first portion of the nerve tissue of the subject, and (b) to drive the at least one electrode unit to initiate the unidirectional action potentials by applying an excitatory current to the second portion of the nerve tissue.
249 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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transluminally advancing a distal portion of a longitudinal member of a device into a renal artery of a subject; operating the device to drive an electrode disposed on the distal portion of the longitudinal member to apply a non-ablative electrical current to nerve tissue of the renal artery; receiving (i) a first value, the first value being indicative of a blood pressure of the subject before a start of the application of the current, and (ii) a second value, the second value being indicative of the blood pressure of the subject after a start of the application of the current; determining if a difference between the first value and the second value is smaller than a threshold difference; and in response to the determining, selecting the subject for performance or non-performance of ablation of a renal artery of the subject, wherein selecting comprises; if the determined difference is greater than the threshold difference, operating the device to apply ablation energy to the renal artery;
whereasif the determined difference is smaller than the threshold difference, withdrawing the longitudinal member from the subject without having applied ablation energy to the renal artery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification