# US 8,771,252 B2 · Methods and devices for renal nerve blocking > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,252 B2 - Document ID: US8771252B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/133,925 - Filed: 2005-05-20 - Published: 2006-02-02 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2002-04-08 - Assignees: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l. - Applicants: Mark Gelfand; Howard R. Levin - Inventors: Mark Gelfand; Howard R. Levin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771252B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/14276: {specially adapted for implantation} - A61N 1/326: {for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells} - A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system} - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61N 1/36114: {Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation (stimulating the heart A61N1/362)} - A61N 1/3627: {for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy} - 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 and apparatus for treatment of cardiac and renal diseases associated with the elevated sympathetic renal nerve activity by implanting a device to block the renal nerve signals to and from the kidney. The device can be a drug pump or a drug eluting implant for targeted delivery of a nerve-blocking agent to the periarterial space of the renal artery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating a patient diagnosed with at least one of heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, renal disease, or chronic renal failure, the method comprising: delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient; and at least partially blocking neural activity along the nerve with the neuromodulatory agent and modulating at least one of urine production, blood pressure, fluid retention, renin secretion, renal blood flow, waste excretion, and sodium retention in the patient, wherein delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient comprises delivering the neuromodulatory agent via an intravascular to extravascular approach. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient comprises delivering at least one of an anesthetic, neurotoxin, alcohol, phenol, ketamine, and antidepressant to the nerve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient comprises delivering a neuromodulatory agent via a catheter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein a distal portion of the catheter comprises at least two electrodes, and wherein the method further comprises sensing neural activity via the electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein a distal portion of the catheter comprises at least two electrodes, and wherein the method further comprises electrically stimulating a renal nerve of the patient via the electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the distal portion of the catheter comprises a first electrode configured to be located proximally of a nerve modulating site and a second electrode configured to be located distally of the nerve modulating site, and wherein the method further comprises sensing neural activity via the first and second electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the distal portion of the catheter comprises a first electrode configured to be located proximally of a nerve modulating site and a second electrode configured to be located distally of the nerve modulating site, and wherein the method further comprises electrically stimulating a renal nerve of the patient with the electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether neural activity has been sufficiently altered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least partially blocking the neural activity comprises at least substantially blocking sympathetic neural activity along a renal nerve of the patient. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether neural activity along the renal nerve has been substantially blocked. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein determining whether neural activity has been substantially blocked comprises electrically stimulating the renal nerve and detecting a response in the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient comprises delivering a neuromodulatory agent via a drug delivery device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein delivering a neuromodulatory agent to a nerve that innervates a kidney of the patient comprises positioning a needle within a periarterial space of the patient and injecting the neuromodulatory agent via the needle into the periarterial space of the patient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein positioning a needle proximate the periarterial space of the patient comprises positioning the needle under CT guidance.