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 comprising a distal end configured to be inserted into a renal artery of the mammalian subject;
an ultrasound transducer positioned along the distal end of the catheter, the ultrasound transducer configured to be inserted into the renal artery of the mammalian subject;
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 simultaneously in a 360°
arc through an intima layer of the renal artery and into an impact volume disposed in an adventitia layer comprising renal nerves of the renal artery to inactivate conduction of the renal nerves throughout the impact volume without causing damage to the intima layer of the renal artery; and
a balloon mounted to the catheter to surround the ultrasound transducer, the balloon configured to engage a wall of the renal artery and, when inflated, to center the ultrasound transducer within the renal artery, the balloon further configured to receive a liquid delivered to the balloon to cool the intima layer of the renal artery.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject comprising:
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a catheter comprising a distal end configured to be inserted into a renal artery of the mammalian subject; an ultrasound transducer positioned along the distal end of the catheter, the ultrasound transducer configured to be inserted into the renal artery of the mammalian subject; 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 simultaneously in a 360°
arc through an intima layer of the renal artery and into an impact volume disposed in an adventitia layer comprising renal nerves of the renal artery to inactivate conduction of the renal nerves throughout the impact volume without causing damage to the intima layer of the renal artery; anda balloon mounted to the catheter to surround the ultrasound transducer, the balloon configured to engage a wall of the renal artery and, when inflated, to center the ultrasound transducer within the renal artery, the balloon further configured to receive a liquid delivered to the balloon to cool the intima layer of the renal artery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification