Iontophoresis drug delivery system and method for denervation of the renal sympathetic nerve and iontophoretic drug delivery

An iontophoresis drug delivery system, comprising:

• an energy source;
• a catheter;
• an expandable member disposed at a distal end of the catheter;
• at least one electrode disposed on the expandable member and operably coupled to the energy source;
• and
• a drug supply operatively associated with the expandable member.

An iontophoresis drug delivery catheter, comprising:

• a balloon disposed at a distal end of the catheter;
• at least one electrode disposed on a surface of the balloon and operably coupled to an energy source;
• and
• a drug supply operatively associated with the balloon.

A method for the treatment of renal hypertension, comprising:

• placing a drug-delivery catheter in to the lumen of the renal artery;
• producing an electric potential between the catheter and the nerves adjacent to the renal artery wall;
• and
• administering a drug to said nerves via said electric potential to attenuate the activity of said nerves.

A method to determine if a hypertensive patient may benefit from a renal denervation procedure, comprising:

• measuring the blood pressure of a hypertensive patient;
• administering guanethidine to the hypertensive patient;
• determining whether the blood pressure of the hypertensive patient changed subsequent to guanethidine administration;
• comparing a change in blood pressure to a predetermined value;
• and
• performing a renal denervation procedure on the hypertensive patient if the change in blood pressure exceeds the predetermined value.

A method for treating hypertension comprising:

• placing a drug delivery catheter into a lumen of the renal artery;
• producing an electric potential between the catheter and nerves adjacent a wall of the renal artery;
• and
• administering a drug to the nerves via the electric potential, thereby attenuating the activity of the nerves.