Catheter-based devices and associated methods for immune system neuromodulation

A method of treating a condition associated with inflammation, the method comprising:

• intravascularly positioning a neuromodulation catheter including an energy delivery element at a treatment location within a celiac artery or a branch of the celiac artery of the patient;
• delivering, via the energy delivery element positioned at the treatment location, ablative energy to neural fibers proximate the celiac artery or the branch of the celiac artery of the patient to render the neural fibers inert, inactive, or reduced in function to reduce inflammation, wherein the delivery of the ablative energy improves a level or activity of one or more markers of inflammation;
• and
• comparing the level or activity after delivery of the ablative energy to a baseline activity level that is measured prior to delivery of the ablative energy to determine a comparison,
• wherein the baseline activity level represents an average activity level at two or more timepoints prior to delivery of the ablative energy,
• wherein delivering the ablative energy is repeated at the treatment location until the level or activity of one or more markers of inflammation reaches a benchmark that is based on the comparison.

A system comprising:

• a neuromodulation catheter configured to be positioned at a treatment location within a celiac artery or a branch of the celiac artery of the patient;
• a treatment device configured to deliver, via the neuromodulation catheter, ablative therapy to neural fibers proximate the celiac artery or the branch of the celiac artery of the patient to render the neural fibers inert, inactive, or reduced in function to reduce inflammation to improve a level or activity of one or more markers of inflammation including interleukins, high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or heat shock proteins;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to compare the level or activity after delivery of the ablative therapy to a baseline activity level that is measured prior to delivery of the ablative therapy,
• wherein the baseline activity level represents an average activity level at two or more timepoints prior to delivery of the ablative therapy.