Control of arterial smooth muscle tone
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsRoger Hastings, William J. Drasler, Vitaly N. Shapovalov, Mark Schroeder, Anupama Sadasiva
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Abstract
An apparatus for locally controlling smooth muscle tone includes a first electrode for insertion into an artery; a barrier for preventing the first electrode from contacting an arterial wall; a second electrode; a power supply; and a controller for coupling the power supply to the electrodes. The controller is configured to cause the electrode to maintain a waveform for controlling polarization of smooth muscle tone.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a catheter comprising a first electrode configured to be fed into a renal artery of a patient;
- a temperature sensor disposed adjacent to the first electrode;
- a power supply;
- and
- an electronic controller configured to couple the power supply to the first electrode;
- wherein the controller is configured to deliver a voltage waveform to the first electrode to perform a hypertension treatment;
- wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the voltage waveform with the patient's cardiac cycle;
- wherein the controller is configured to regulate the voltage waveform based on a temperature signal at a treatment location from the temperature sensor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to maintain a positive voltage during diastole and a zero or negative voltage at other times.
A method for delivering a hypertension therapy to a patient using a system that comprises a catheter comprising a first electrode and a temperature sensor disposed adjacent to the first electrode, a power supply, and an electronic controller configured to couple the power supply to the first electrode, said method comprising:
- inserting the catheter into the patient such that the first electrode is positioned in a renal artery of the patient;
- delivering a voltage waveform to the first electrode to perform the hypertension therapy, wherein the voltage waveform is synchronized with the patient's cardiac cycle;
- regulating the voltage waveform based on the temperature signal from the temperature sensor;
- and
- wherein the voltage waveform comprises a positive voltage during diastole and a zero or negative voltage at other times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.