Methods for catheter-based renal neuromodulation

摘要

Methods and apparatus are provided for monopolar neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such monopolar neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, monopolar neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such monopolar neuromodulation is performed bilaterally.

主权项

1. A method for catheter-based renal neuromodulation, the method comprising:
intravascularly positioning an electrode of a catheter within renal vasculature of a human patient and proximate to neural fibers that innervate a kidney of the patient; and delivering an electric field between the electrode and a ground pad coupled to an exterior of the patient, thereby thermally inhibiting neural communication along the neural fibers, wherein delivering the electric field and thermally inhibiting neural communication along the neural fibers results in a therapeutically beneficial reduction in blood pressure of the patient.