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US 12,539,167 B2Granted
Therapeutic tissue modulation devices and methods
AssigneeMedtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company
InventorsAnthony Ciro Vrba, Scott Raymond Smith, Bobak Robert Azamian, James G. Hansen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to various embodiments, systems, devices and methods for modulating targeted nerve fibers (e.g., hepatic neuromodulation) or other tissue are provided. Systems, devices and methods for cooling energy delivery members are also provided. The systems may be configured to access tortuous anatomy of or adjacent hepatic vasculature. The systems may be configured to target nerves surrounding (e.g., within adventitia of or within perivascular space of) an artery or other blood vessel, such as the common hepatic artery.
Claims27
An intraluminal radiofrequency ablation catheter comprising:
- a proximal manifold;
- an elongate shaft coupled to the proximal manifold, the elongate shaft comprising at least one lumen,
- wherein the at least one lumen comprises a fluid infusion lumen,
- wherein the elongate shaft comprises a central longitudinal axis extending along its length;
- an inner expandable member, a proximal end portion of the inner expandable member being in fluid communication with the fluid infusion lumen,
- wherein the fluid infusion lumen is configured to infuse cooling fluid into the inner expandable member;
- and
- an outer expandable member surrounding the inner expandable member, wherein the outer expandable member comprises at least one electrode, wherein the inner expandable member comprises a plurality of outlet orifices, each orifice of the plurality of outlet orifices being radially and axially aligned with an electrode of the at least one electrode to direct cooling fluid, from all of the plurality of outlet orifices at a first total flow rate, from the inner expandable member toward an interior surface of the electrode of the at least one electrode to facilitate cooling of the interior surface of the electrode of the at least one electrode while the at least one electrode delivers energy to tissue,
- wherein the inner expandable member comprises one or more auxiliary outlet orifices, and each auxiliary outlet orifice of the one or more auxiliary outlet orifices is configured to direct the cooling fluid, from all of the one or more auxiliary outlet orifices at a second total flow rate, into a gap between the inner expandable member and the outer expandable member, wherein each auxiliary outlet orifice is not axially aligned with any of the at least one electrode, and wherein when the cooling fluid is simultaneously delivered through the plurality of outlet orifices and the one or more auxiliary outlet orifices, the second total flow rate through the one or more auxiliary outlet orifices is less than the first total flow rate through the plurality of outlet orifices.
6 more elements
An intraluminal radiofrequency ablation catheter comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising at least one fluid lumen;
- a first expandable member coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the first expandable member includes multiple electrodes;
- and
- a second expandable member, located within the first expandable member, fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid lumen of the elongate shaft and comprising one or more openings positioned adjacent to at least one of the multiple electrodes, each opening of the one or more openings being radially and axially aligned with at least one electrode of the multiple electrodes to direct a jet of fluid, from all of the one or more openings at a first total flow rate, toward an interior surface of the respective at least one electrode when fluid is introduced into the second expandable member through the at least one fluid lumen,
- wherein the jet of fluid enables effective cooling the interior surface of each of the at least one of the multiple electrodes while the at least one of the multiple electrodes delivers energy to tissue,
- wherein the second expandable member comprises one or more auxiliary openings, and each auxiliary opening of the one or more auxiliary openings is configured to direct the fluid, from all of the one or more auxiliary openings at a second total flow rate, into a gap between the first expandable member and the second expandable member, wherein each auxiliary opening is not axially aligned with any electrodes of the multiple electrodes, and wherein when the fluid is simultaneously delivered through the one or more openings and the one or more auxiliary openings, the second total flow rate through the one or more auxiliary openings is less than the first total flow rate through the one or more openings.
3 more elements
An intraluminal radiofrequency ablation catheter comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising multiple lumens;
- an inner expandable member coupled to the elongate shaft, the inner expandable member being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet lumen of the elongate shaft;
- and
- an outer expandable electrode support structure coupled to the elongate shaft and surrounding the inner expandable member,
- wherein the outer expandable electrode support structure comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in an electrode pattern designed to effect circumferential ablation of perivascular nerves from an intravascular location without causing a circumferential lesion of a vessel wall,
- wherein the inner expandable member comprises multiple openings, each opening of the multiple openings being radially and axially aligned with at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes to direct jets of cooling fluid received via the fluid inlet lumen, from all of the multiple openings at a first total flow rate, at an interior surface of the at least one electrode to provide cooling to the interior surface of the at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes while the at least one electrode delivers energy to tissue,
- wherein the plurality of electrodes located on the outer expandable electrode support structure have both a radial and axial separation,
- wherein the inner expandable member comprises one or more auxiliary openings, and each auxiliary opening of the one or more auxiliary openings is configured to direct the cooling fluid, from all of the one or more auxiliary openings at a second total flow rate, into a gap between the inner expandable member and the outer expandable electrode support structure, wherein each auxiliary opening is not axially aligned with any electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, and wherein when the cooling fluid is simultaneously delivered through the multiple openings and the one or more auxiliary openings, the second total flow rate through the one or more auxiliary openings is less than the first total flow rate through the multiple openings.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.