Multiple sclerosis therapeutic methods using therapeutic ablation devices and systems

摘要

Methods and devices are disclosed that, in various embodiments and permutations and combinations of inventions, diagnose and treat Pulmonary Embolism or associated symptoms. In one series of embodiments, the invention consists of methods and devices for identifying patients whose Pulmonary Embolism or associated symptoms are caused or exacerbated, at least in part, by blockages of one or more of the patient's internal pulmonary veins. In some instances, stenoses or other flow limiting structures or lesions in the patient's affected veins are identified. Further, in some instances the nature of such lesions and whether there is a significant disruption of blood pressure, or both, is ascertained. In some embodiments, methods and devices for applying one or more therapies to the blockages in the patient's pulmonary veins are provided.

主权项

1. A method of treating Multiple Sclerosis, comprising:
providing a treatment device comprising an ablation catheter capable of applying ablation chosen from the group of ablation techniques consisting of laser, RF, cryoablation or other energy sources to open or enlarge a lumen defined by a stenosis of a vein wherein the ablation catheter has a catheter body with a distal end, a proximal end, a central lumen through which a guide wire may be passed, an outer surface and ablation system and wherein the ablation catheter further comprises an imaging transducer as part of an imaging system located at its distal end; evaluating multiple sclerosis symptoms of a patient using a computing device in communication with the ablation catheter, the computing device configured to evaluate multiple sclerosis symptoms by:
identifying at least one venous obstruction site in the vein based on images obtained by the imaging transducer of the ablation catheter;assessing the at least one venous outflow obstruction site to determine whether the at least one venous outflow obstruction site causes significant narrowing of the vein, wherein venous outflow obstruction sites causing significant narrowing of the vein are identified for treatment with the ablation catheter; and applying the treatment device to the identified venous outflow obstruction site of the vein to treat the multiple sclerosis symptoms of the patient, including ablating the identified venous outflow obstruction site to increase a cross-sectional area of a lumen of the vein of the patient.