Intravascular catheter to deliver unfocused energy to nerves surrounding a blood vessel

摘要

In some examples, nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some examples, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some examples, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents or the agents are enhanced by the energy sources.

主权项

1. A method of inhibiting a nerve surrounding a blood vessel in a patient comprising:
placing an intravascular catheter inside the blood vessel in the patient, the catheter comprising a piezoelectric component; and energizing the piezoelectric component to deliver unfocused ultrasound energy towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of the blood vessel to thereby reach the nerve surrounding the blood vessel; wherein the act of energizing is performed to create a heated region having a toroidal configuration.