Method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension through percutaneous ultrasound renal denervation
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11185662-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-30
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 invention describes a catheter-mounted ultrasound transducer that emits unfocused ultrasound energy through the renal artery intima and into the adventitia to inactivate renal nerve conduction without damaging the intima. The described treatment uses a broad impact volume of at least approximately 0.5 cm³ and does not target individual nerves.
An expansible structure at the catheter's distal portion centers or holds the transducer away from the artery wall while permitting blood flow through its expanded volume to cool the intima. Disclosed forms include balloons, wire baskets, and wire mesh, and dose selection is based on artery size and transducer alignment with the artery axis. The background problem is not explicitly described in the patent.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims recite three inventive features across an apparatus claim and a method claim for inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject.
Catheter-mounted ultrasound apparatus
Claim 1 covers a catheter with a distal ultrasound transducer and an electrically connected actuator configured to emit a therapeutic dose of unfocused ultrasound energy through the renal artery intima and into the adventitia to inactivate renal nerve conduction without causing intimal damage.
Expansible structure permitting blood flow
Claim 1 covers an expansible structure at the catheter's distal portion that transitions between radially compressed and expanded states, defines a volume, and permits blood to flow through that volume to cool the renal artery intima.
Method using an expanded catheter structure
Claim 15 covers inserting a catheter-positioned ultrasound transducer into the renal artery, expanding the structure to hold the transducer out of contact with the artery's inner wall while permitting blood flow to cool the intima, and emitting unfocused ultrasound energy to inactivate renal nerve conduction without causing intimal damage.
The independent claims cover an apparatus and a method combining unfocused ultrasound for inactivating renal nerve conduction with an expansible catheter structure that supports transducer positioning and blood-flow cooling of the intima.
Stated Advantages
The ultrasound energy inactivates renal nerve conduction without causing damage to the renal artery intima.
Blood flow through the expanded structure cools the intima; a dependent claim states that this minimizes intimal damage.
Documented Applications
Inactivating renal nerve conduction in a mammalian subject.
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