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

21 · 2 independent · depth 3

21 granted claims

›1.independentAn apparatus for renal denervation, the apparatus comprising:na catheter configured for intravascular placement within a renal artery of a human patie…+15

›2.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the first and second elec…d2+1

›4.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to bring the individual electrodes into apposition with an interior wall of the …d2

›5.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the deployed configuration, the inflatable balloon is sized to occlude the renal artery.d2

›6.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the electrodes is dynamically assignable.d2

›7.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are configured to be energized concurrently.d2

›8.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are configured to be energized sequentially.d2

›9.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises four or more electrodes.d2

›10.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the individual electrodes are configured to deliver the thermal RF energy through an inner wall of the renal artery t…d2

›11.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thermal RF energy from the electrodes is sufficient to reduce neural communication to and from a kidney of the pa…d2

›12.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thermal RF energy from the electrodes is sufficient to cause at least partial ablation of the target renal nerves…d2

›13.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors at the distal portion of the catheter for monitoring and/or controlling effects of th…d2+1

›15.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the catheter and inflatable balloon are configured for placement within the renal artery over a guidewire.d2

›16.↳ 1The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a field generator external to the patient and electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes.d2

›17.independentA renal neuromodulation system for treatment of a human patient, the system comprising:nan electric field generator configured to deliver a thermal RF…+4

Classifications

2 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section A — Human necessities

A61B18/12

USPC · US Patent Classification

606/41

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Pendency

0.6 y

221 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

2 RCE

Examiner

Aaron Roane

art unit 3769 · TC 3700

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Citations: 1,290 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

8 Apr 2002

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60370190	8 Apr 2002
related publication	US 20130304054 A1	14 Nov 2013

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