Abstract:
Apparatuses for identifying nerve tissue and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example apparatus may include an elongate shaft having a distal region configured to be percutaneously deployed within a patient. An active imaging structure may be disposed on the distal region. The active imaging structure may be configured to remotely image nerve tissue by exciting a signal in nerve tissue from a percutaneous location and receiving the signal from a percutaneous location. The active imaging structure may include one or more probes.
Abstract:
Devices (10) for sealing an opening (1) in a blood vessel (3) are disclosed. A device (10) can include: an elongate, tubular non-stick outer sheath (20), the non-stick outer sheath (20) having a distal end (21) that is insertable into a vessel (3) of a patient through the opening (1) in the vessel wall (2), and having a proximal end remaining outside the patient; an elongate, tubular non-stick inner sheath (30) disposed within the non-stick outer sheath (20); and an elongate, tubular adhesive film (40) disposed between the non-stick outer sheath (20) and the non-stick inner sheath (30), the adhesive film (40) having both inward- facing and outward- facing adhesive surfaces and being supportable by the non-stick inner sheath (30) during insertion into the vessel (3) of the patient.
Abstract:
An ablation catheter includes a flexible shaft having length sufficient to access a patient's renal artery. An electrode arrangement is provided at the distal end of the shaft. A handle unit includes a housing configured for hand-held manipulation and is coupled to the catheter. A battery and one or both of a high frequency AC generator and ultrasound generator are provided in the housing. The battery serves as the sole source of power for the generator. The generator is configured to generate energy sufficient to ablate perivascular renal nerve tissue using energy stored in the battery. The catheter may be disposable and the housing re-usable. Both the catheter and the housing may be disposable.
Abstract:
A catheter arrangement includes a flexible shaft and a balloon disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configurable for deployment within a target vessel of the body, such as a renal artery. Ablation electrodes, supported by a balloon wall, are arranged in a predefined pattern. The electrodes deliver electrical energy sufficient to ablate target tissue, such as perivascular renal nerves, proximate the target vessel wall when the balloon is in a deployed configuration. A cooling arrangement is encompassed at least in part by the balloon and provides cooling to at least the electrodes during ablation such that a location at which steady-state ablative heating begins is translated from an electrode-tissue interface at the target vessel wall to a location a predetermined distance away from the electrode-tissue interface.
Abstract:
Acoustic energy is delivered to innervated vascular that contributes to renal sympathetic nerve activity, such as innervated tissue of the renal artery and abdominal aorta. Focused acoustic energy is delivered via an intravascular device of sufficient power to ablate innervated renal or aortal tissue. Focused acoustic energy may be delivered via an intravascular or extracorporeal device to image and locate target innervated renal or aortal tissue. Intravascular, extravascular, or transvascular focused ultrasound devices provide for high precision denervation of innervated vascular to terminate renal sympathetic nerve activity.
Abstract:
A cryotherapy balloon catheter includes a compliant cryotherapy balloon comprising a distal balloon section dimensioned for placement within a renal artery and a proximal balloon section dimensioned to abut against an ostium of the renal artery and extend into at least a portion of the abdominal aorta. The compliant balloon has a diameter that varies non-uniformly along a length of the compliant balloon, such that a diameter at the proximal balloon section is larger than a diameter of the distal balloon section. The cryotherapy balloon catheter may be configured to deliver cryogenic therapy to at least the ostium of the renal artery sufficient to irreversibly terminate renal sympathetic nerve activity, such as by causing neurotmesis of renal nerve fibers and ganglia at the ostium of the renal artery.
Abstract:
An imaging assembly for an intravascular ultrasound system includes a catheter, an imaging core, and at least one transducer conductor. The imaging core is insertable into the catheter and extendable from a distal end of the catheter. The imaging core includes a rotatable magnet, a tilted reflective surface, and at least one fixed transducer all disposed in a body. The rotatable magnet is configured and arranged to rotate by a magnetic field generated external to the catheter. The tilted reflective surface rotates with the magnet. The at least one transducer is configured and arranged for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals. The at least one transducer conductor is electrically coupled to the at least one transducer and is configured and arranged to extend into the catheter when the imaging core is extended from the catheter.
Abstract:
A catheter assembly for an intravascular ultrasound system includes an imaging core configured and arranged for inserting into a distal end of a lumen of a catheter. The imaging core includes at least one transducer mounted to a driveshaft and configured and arranged for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals. A motor is coupled to the driveshaft between the one or more transducers and the transformer. The motor includes a rotatable magnet and at least two magnetic field windings disposed around at least a portion of the magnet.
Abstract:
An imaging core, that is configured and arranged for insertion into a catheter, includes a mirror disposed at a distal end of a rotatable driveshaft; a motor coupled to the driveshaft and including a rotatable magnet and at least two magnetic field windings disposed around at least a portion of the magnet on a rigid slotted material; and at least one fixed transducer positioned between the motor and the rotatable mirror. The driveshaft extends through an aperture in the magnet to allow passage of the driveshaft through the at least one transducer to the rotatable mirror. At least one transducer conductor is electrically coupled to the at least one transducer and in electrical communication with the proximal end of the catheter. At least one motor conductor is electrically coupled to the magnetic field windings and in electrical communication with the proximal end of the catheter.
Abstract:
An apparatus for locally controlling smooth muscle tone includes a first electrode for insertion into an artery; a barrier for preventing the first electrode from contacting an arterial wall; a second electrode; a power supply; and a controller for coupling the power supply to the electrodes. The controller is configured to cause the electrode to maintain a waveform for controlling polarization of smooth muscle tone.