INTRAVASCULAR NEUROMODULATION DEVICE HAVING A HELICAL THERAPEUTIC ASSEMBLY WITH PROUD PORTIONS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

摘要

Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving neuromodulation by intravascular access. A treatment device has a pre-formed helical therapeutic assembly with spaced-apart proud portions that are offset with respect to the pre-formed helical shape when in a deployed configuration. The therapeutic assembly includes a plurality of energy delivery elements carried by and associated with the proud portions such that, in the deployed configuration, the proud portions are configured to position the energy delivery elements in apposition with an inner wall of a target blood vessel. The energy delivery elements can deliver energy across the inner wall of a renal artery, for example, to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.

主权项

1. A neuromodulation catheter, comprising:
an elongated shaft; and a therapeutic assembly disposed at a distal portion of the elongated shaft and adapted to be located at a target location within a target blood vessel of a human patient, the therapeutic assembly including—
a tubular support structure comprising a pre-formed helical shape having a plurality of proud portions longitudinally separated by interposing portions, wherein the proud portions are offset with respect to the pre-formed helical shape; anda plurality of energy delivery elements, each element being carried by the support structure at a corresponding proud portion, wherein the elongated shaft and the therapeutic assembly together define a guidewire lumen configured to slidably receive a guidewire therethrough, wherein at least partial removal of the guidewire relative to the therapeutic assembly transforms the support structure from a low-profile delivery configuration to a deployed configuration defined by the pre-formed helical shape of the support structure, and wherein, when the support structure is in the deployed configuration, the proud portions are configured to position the energy delivery elements in apposition with an inner wall of the target blood vessel.