Method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension through percutaneous ultrasound renal denervation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject comprising:
- a catheter configured to be inserted into a renal artery of the mammalian subject;
an ultrasound transducer positioned along a distal end of the catheter, the ultrasound transducer configured to be inserted into the renal artery of the mammalian subject and to emit unfocused ultrasound energy;
an actuator electrically connected to the ultrasound transducer, the actuator configured to cause the ultrasound transducer to emit a therapeutic dose of unfocused ultrasound energy into an impact volume of at least 0.5 cm3 encompassing the renal artery to inactivate conduction of renal nerves throughout the impact volume without causing damage to an intima layer of the renal artery;
a balloon mounted at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon is configured to engage a wall of the renal artery without substantially blocking flow of blood through the renal artery, wherein the balloon comprises a non-circular shape when in an inflated condition and a liquid is delivered to the balloon to cool the intima layer of the renal artery; and
a machine-readable element affixed to the catheter, the machine-readable element encoding an optimum actuation frequency of ultrasonic energy to be emitted by the ultrasound transducer during use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for deactivating renal nerves extending along a renal artery of a mammalian subject to treat hypertension and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (30) is inserted into the renal artery (10) as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (18) bearing the transducer into the renal artery. The ultrasonic transducer emits unfocused ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume (11) as, for example, at least about 0.5 cm3 encompassing the renal artery to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual renal nerves.
254 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject comprising:
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a catheter configured to be inserted into a renal artery of the mammalian subject; an ultrasound transducer positioned along a distal end of the catheter, the ultrasound transducer configured to be inserted into the renal artery of the mammalian subject and to emit unfocused ultrasound energy; an actuator electrically connected to the ultrasound transducer, the actuator configured to cause the ultrasound transducer to emit a therapeutic dose of unfocused ultrasound energy into an impact volume of at least 0.5 cm3 encompassing the renal artery to inactivate conduction of renal nerves throughout the impact volume without causing damage to an intima layer of the renal artery; a balloon mounted at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon is configured to engage a wall of the renal artery without substantially blocking flow of blood through the renal artery, wherein the balloon comprises a non-circular shape when in an inflated condition and a liquid is delivered to the balloon to cool the intima layer of the renal artery; and a machine-readable element affixed to the catheter, the machine-readable element encoding an optimum actuation frequency of ultrasonic energy to be emitted by the ultrasound transducer during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject comprising:
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a catheter configured to be inserted into a renal artery of the mammalian subject; an ultrasound transducer positioned along a distal end of the catheter, the ultrasound transducer configured to be inserted into the renal artery of the mammalian subject and to emit unfocused ultrasound energy; an actuator electrically connected to the ultrasound transducer, the actuator configured to cause the ultrasound transducer to emit a therapeutic dose of unfocused ultrasound energy into an impact volume of at least 0.5 cm3 encompassing the renal artery to inactivate conduction of renal nerves throughout the impact volume without causing damage to an intima layer of the renal artery, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the ultrasound transducer to emit the unfocused ultrasound energy; a balloon mounted at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon is configured to engage a wall of the renal artery, wherein, when inflated, the balloon centers the ultrasound transducer within the renal artery and a liquid is delivered to the balloon to cool the intima layer of the renal artery; and a machine-readable element affixed to the catheter, the machine readable element including information associated with an optimum actuation frequency. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification