Renal injury inhibiting devices, systems, and methods employing low-frequency ultrasound or other cyclical pressure energies

A method for treating a patient including a kidney with chronic kidney disease comprising ischemia of a tissue of the kidney, the method comprising:

• transmitting cyclical mechanical pressure energy having a frequency in a range from about 20 kHz to about 500 kHz from an energy source selectively to the tissue of the kidney;
• and
• supporting the energy source relative to the patient using a support during the transmission of the cyclical mechanical pressure energy;
• the cyclical mechanical pressure energy being transmitted to the tissue of the kidney for a plurality of treatment time periods distributed over more than 2 weeks so that progressive loss of function of the kidney due to ischemia of the tissue of the kidney is inhibited.

A system for treating a patient being subjected to a procedure associated with a potential injury of first and second kidneys of the patient, the system comprising:

• a first transducer operable to selectively direct cyclical mechanical pressure energy having a frequency in a range from about 20 kHz to about 50 kHz to a tissue of the first kidney;
• a second transducer operable to selectively direct cyclical mechanical pressure energy having a frequency in a range from about 20 kHz to about 50 kHz to a tissue of the second kidney;
• and
• a support structure to which the first transducer and the second transducer are mounted, the support structure being configured to receive the patient so as to maintain alignment between the first transducer and the tissue of the first kidney and to maintain alignment between the second transducer and the tissue of the second kidney, wherein the support structure comprising one of:
• a table configured to receive the patient laying face up, or
• a garment configured to be worn by the patient and having a belt/vest form,
• wherein the potential injury comprises ischemia of the tissue of the first kidney and the tissue of the second kidney, and
• wherein the cyclical mechanical pressure energy inhibits the potential ischemia by significantly increasing perfusion within the tissue of the first kidney and the tissue of the second kidney.