APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ACHIEVING INTRAVASCULAR, THERMALLY-INDUCED RENAL NEUROMODULATION
First Claim
1. A catheter apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated shaft extending along an axis, the elongated shaft comprising a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal region including a first flexure zone and a second flexure zone adjacent to and extending distally beyond the first flexure zone;
a handle coupled to the proximal end region;
a thermal element carried by and extending distally beyond the second flexure zone;
a flexure control element coupled to the first flexure zone and configured to apply a first force to the first flexure zone to move the first flexure zone of the distal region of the elongated shaft in a radial direction away from the axis;
a flexible structure within the second flexure zone that is coupled to the thermal element and configured to allow passive flexure about the axis in response to a second force applied to the thermal element via contact with a tissue surface;
a flexure controller carried by the handle and coupled to the flexure control element, wherein the flexure controller is configured to cause the flexure control element to apply the first force to move the first flexure zone; and
a connector carried by the handle and configured to connect the thermal element to a thermal energy source;
wherein the thermal element is configured to apply treatment to a tissue region adjacent to the tissue surface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods for achieving thermally-induced renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.
4 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A catheter apparatus, comprising:
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an elongated shaft extending along an axis, the elongated shaft comprising a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal region including a first flexure zone and a second flexure zone adjacent to and extending distally beyond the first flexure zone; a handle coupled to the proximal end region; a thermal element carried by and extending distally beyond the second flexure zone; a flexure control element coupled to the first flexure zone and configured to apply a first force to the first flexure zone to move the first flexure zone of the distal region of the elongated shaft in a radial direction away from the axis; a flexible structure within the second flexure zone that is coupled to the thermal element and configured to allow passive flexure about the axis in response to a second force applied to the thermal element via contact with a tissue surface; a flexure controller carried by the handle and coupled to the flexure control element, wherein the flexure controller is configured to cause the flexure control element to apply the first force to move the first flexure zone; and a connector carried by the handle and configured to connect the thermal element to a thermal energy source; wherein the thermal element is configured to apply treatment to a tissue region adjacent to the tissue surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A catheter apparatus, comprising:
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a thermal element; an elongated shaft extending along an axis; and a distal flexure zone separating the thermal element and the elongated shaft, wherein the distal flexure zone is configured to carry the thermal element and facilitate stable contact between the thermal element and a tissue surface, and further wherein the distal flexure zone comprises a flexible structure that accommodates passive flexure in any plane through the axis during contact between the thermal element and the tissue surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A catheter apparatus, comprising:
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an elongated shaft extending along an axis and comprising a controlled flexure zone and an unrestrained flexure zone coupled to and extending distally from the controlled flexure zone, the elongated shaft sized and configured for intravascular delivery into a peripheral blood vessel; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is configured to carry the thermal element; wherein the controlled flexure zone is sized and configured for placement into contact against a first wall region of the peripheral blood vessel and, in response to application of a force applied by a remotely controlled element, for flexure relative to the axis in a predetermined radial direction away from the first wall region toward a second wall region of the peripheral blood vessel generally opposite to the first wall region; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is sized and configured, when the controlled flexure zone is in flexure against the first wall region, for unrestrained flexure relative to the axis to place a side of the thermal element into contact against the second wall region; and wherein the controlled flexure zone is configured to apply, when in flexure against the first wall region, through the unrestrained flexure zone a stabilizing force to the thermal element against the second wall region. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification