Method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension through percutaneous ultrasound renal denervation
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10039901-B2
Publication Date
2018-08-07
Expiration Date
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.
Core Innovation
The supplied content describes a method for inactivating renal nerve conduction using a balloon-mounted intravascular ultrasound transducer. The transducer emits unfocused ultrasound energy into an impact volume containing renal nerves, while cooled liquid and blood flow cool the renal artery intima. The stated outcome is inactivation of renal nerve conduction without damage to the intima layer.
The supplied partial content does not include the patent’s background section, so it does not explicitly describe the problem being solved there. It describes renal denervation as the intended treatment and identifies the avoidance of intimal damage during nerve inactivation as an outcome. The content also mentions echo-based determination of a therapeutic dose and treatment at additional renal-artery locations.
Claims Coverage
The supplied relevant claims identify one independent claim comprising one inventive feature.
Inactivating renal nerve conduction with unfocused ultrasound
The method uses a balloon-mounted ultrasound transducer in a renal artery, cooled liquid to cool the intima, and unfocused ultrasound energy directed into an adventitial impact volume containing renal nerves. The claimed result is inactivation of renal nerve conduction without damage to the intima layer.
The independent claim covers a renal denervation method combining a balloon-mounted ultrasound transducer, intimal cooling, and unfocused ultrasound energy to inactivate renal nerve conduction while avoiding intimal damage.
Stated Advantages
Inactivates renal nerve conduction without causing damage to the renal artery intima.
Cooled liquid and blood flow cool the renal artery intima during treatment.
Documented Applications
Inactivation of renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject, described as renal denervation.
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