# US 10,441,355 B2 · Ablation targeting nerves in or near the inferior vena cava and/or abdominal aorta for treatment of hypertension

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,441,355 B2
- Document ID: US10441355B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/240,029
- Filed: 2016-08-18
- Published: 2017-03-09
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-09
- Assignees: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
- Applicants: Biosense Webster (Israel), Ltd.
- Inventors: Debby Grunewald; Kristine B. Fuimaono; Tina Chan; Tom A. Ditter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441355B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques
- A61B 18/0206: {ultrasonic, e.g. for destroying tissue or enhancing freezing}
- A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves}
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61M 25/09: Guide wires
- A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
- A61B 17/22004: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves (A61B17/225 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00318: {Steering mechanisms}
- A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons}
- A61B 2018/00285: {Balloons}
- A61B 2018/00375: {Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery}
- A61B 2018/00404: {Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart}
- A61B 2018/00434: {Neural system}
- A61B 2018/00505: {Urinary tract}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple}
- A61B 2018/0212: {using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter}
- A61B 2018/1407: {Loop}
- A61B 2018/1432: {curved}
- A61B 2018/1435: {Spiral}
- A61B 2018/1465: {Deformable electrodes}
- A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system
- A61B 2218/002: Irrigation
- A61M 2025/0183: {Rapid exchange or monorail catheters}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A method for the treatment of a patient for the purpose of lowering blood pressure and/or treating other medical conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias. A catheter having an ablation element is placed inside the body of a patient and is directed to a targeted location either on in the abdominal aorta where the right or left renal arteries branch from the aorta at or near the superior junction or ostia or on the inside of the inferior vena cava near the junction with the right renal vein or in the left renal vein at a position spatially near where the left renal artery branches from the abdominal aorta. Catheters designed for use in the method where these targeted locations are also disclosed and claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for the treatment of a patient, comprising the steps of:
inserting an ablation catheter into a body of the patient, the ablation catheter comprising an elongate tubular body having a distal tip with a plurality of cantilevered spines extending therefrom; and
ablating tissue at a targeted location at or near the intersection of a renal artery and the abdominal aorta so as to denervate the renal artery;
wherein each spine has an unsupported distal end that is moveable relative to the other spines.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end of each spine is not connected to another spine.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the targeted location is in the abdominal aorta in the vicinity of the superior junction of the abdominal aorta and the left renal artery.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the targeted location is in the abdominal aorta in the vicinity of the superior junction of the abdominal aorta and the right renal artery.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the targeted location is in the abdominal aorta in the vicinity of the ostium of the abdominal aorta and the right renal artery.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the targeted location is in the abdominal aorta in the vicinity of the ostium of the abdominal aorta and the left renal artery.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein ablating tissue comprises ablating using radio frequency energy at an electrode, the ablation catheter being configured to ablate tissue using radio frequency energy at the electrode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein ablating tissue comprises ablating using laser energy, microwave energy, cryogenic cooling, rf energy, or ultrasound energy, the ablation catheter being configured to ablate tissue using laser energy, microwave energy, cryogenic cooling, rf energy, or ultrasound energy, respectively.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising irrigating the electrode so as to decrease damage to endothelial cells lining a lumen of the renal artery.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the ablation catheter has a plurality of holes through which a cooling fluid is capable of flowing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the distal end of each spine includes an ablation element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein each spine is S shaped curving toward and then away from a longitudinal axis of the ablation catheter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein each spine is made of nitinol and is configured to be substantially linear when constrained in a delivery sheath.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the ablation catheter comprises an ablation element and a stabilizing member that is placed in a vessel near the target location so as to stabilize the ablation element.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the stabilizing member is an inflatable balloon.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the stabilizing member is guided into the vessel over a guidewire.

### Claim 17

A method for the treatment of a patient, comprising the steps of:
inserting an ablation catheter into the left renal vein of the patient, the ablation catheter comprising an elongate tubular body having a distal tip with a plurality of cantilevered spines extending therefrom; and
ablating tissue at a targeted location in the left renal vein where the left renal vein crosses over the junction where the left renal artery branches from the abdominal aorta so as to denervate the renal artery;
wherein each spine has an unsupported distal end that is moveable relative to the other spines.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the distal end of each spine is not connected to another spine.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the targeted location in the left renal vein is the location spatially nearest to the superior junction between the left renal artery and the abdominal aorta.