Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.

Claims

16 · 1 independent · depth 3

16 granted claims

›1.independentAn apparatus for renal neuromodulation, the apparatus comprising:na catheter configured for intravascular placement within a renal blood vessel of a h…+15

›2.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:nthe first electrode is configured to deliver thermal energy to create a first non-continuous, circumferential treatm…d2+2

›5.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are parts of a flex circuit on a surface of the expandable balloon.d2+1

›7.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable balloon is configured to bring the first electrode and the second electrode into contact with an inner…d2

›8.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable balloon is configured to block fluid flow within the renal blood vessel during energy delivery.d2

›9.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expandable balloon is configured to not block fluid flow within the renal blood vessel during energy delivery.d2

›10.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:na third electrode having a third pair of bipolar contacts attached to the expandable balloon; anda fourt…d2

›11.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first electrode further comprises at least one sensor configured to monitor a parameter of the apparatus or of ti…d2+1

›13.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver thermal energy sufficient to modulate neural activity in ne…d2

›14.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to deliver thermal energy sufficient to ablate neural fibers within a …d2

›15.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the catheter is configured for infusion of one or more agents into the renal blood vessel before, during, or after en…d2

›16.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electric field generator external to the patient and electrically coupled to the first and second elec…d2

Classifications

2 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section A — Human necessities

A61B18/12

USPC · US Patent Classification

606/41

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Pendency

0.5 y

186 days filing → grant

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none on record

Responses

1 RCE

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Examiner

Aaron Roane

art unit 3769 · TC 3700

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Citations: 1,023 back · 1 forward

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

5 Oct 2004

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60616254	5 Oct 2004
related publication	US 20130012867 A1	10 Jan 2013

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