Methods and apparatus for multi-vessel renal neuromodulation
First Claim
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1. A renal neuromodulation apparatus for treating a human patient, the apparatus comprising:
- an electric field generator external to the patient;
a catheter including a first electrode sized and shaped for intravascular placement within a first renal blood vessel of the patient, wherein the first electrode is electrically coupleable to the electric field generator; and
a second electrode carried by the catheter, wherein the second electrode is sized and shaped for intravascular placement within a second renal blood vessel of the patient different than the first renal blood vessel, and wherein the second electrode is electrically coupleable to the electric field generator,wherein the electric field generator causes delivery of a non-pulsed thermal radiofrequency (RF) electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode to at least partially denervate a single kidney while the first electrode is located within the first renal blood vessel and the second electrode is located within the second renal blood vessel.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for multi-vessel neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such multi-vessel neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the multi-vessel neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. Such multi-vessel neuromodulation optionally may be performed bilaterally.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A renal neuromodulation apparatus for treating a human patient, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric field generator external to the patient; a catheter including a first electrode sized and shaped for intravascular placement within a first renal blood vessel of the patient, wherein the first electrode is electrically coupleable to the electric field generator; and a second electrode carried by the catheter, wherein the second electrode is sized and shaped for intravascular placement within a second renal blood vessel of the patient different than the first renal blood vessel, and wherein the second electrode is electrically coupleable to the electric field generator, wherein the electric field generator causes delivery of a non-pulsed thermal radiofrequency (RF) electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode to at least partially denervate a single kidney while the first electrode is located within the first renal blood vessel and the second electrode is located within the second renal blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification