CAROTID SEPTUM ABLATION WITH ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND ABLATION CATHETERS

摘要

Methods and devices for assessing, and treating patients having sympathetically mediated disease, involving augmented peripheral chemoreflex and heightened sympathetic tone by reducing chemosensor input to the nervous system via carotid body ablation.

主权项

1. A method of ablating tissue within a carotid septum with an ultrasound ablation catheter, comprising:
providing an ultrasound ablation catheter comprising a diagnostic ultrasound transducer axially spaced from, and with a fixed position relative to, an ultrasound ablation transducer; positioning the ablation catheter within a lumen in a patient's vasculature proximate a carotid septum; using the diagnostic imaging transducer to generate an ultrasound image of an anatomical landmark that includes at least one of a bifurcation of a common carotid artery, an internal carotid artery, and an external carotid artery; using the imaged anatomical landmark to confirm an ablation position of the ultrasound ablation transducer within the lumen; and while the ultrasound ablation transducer is in the ablation position, directing ultrasound ablation energy from the ultrasound ablation transducer towards the tissue within the carotid septum to ablate the tissue within the carotid septum and treat at least one of heart failure and hypertension.