APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

摘要

A method is described for decreasing activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating at least one blood vessel in the pulmonary vasculature of a patient to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension. In one embodiment, the method may involve advancing an intravascular treatment device to a target location in a target blood vessel within the pulmonary vasculature of the patient and using the treatment device to decrease activity of at least one sympathetic nerve, nerve fiber or neuron innervating the target blood vessel at or near the target location to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension.

主权项

1. A method of destroying nerve fibers of a nerve innervating a pulmonary blood vessel to treat pulmonary hypertension in a patient, the method comprising:
advancing a distal portion of a therapy delivery catheter to a target location in the pulmonary blood vessel of the patient; changing a shape of the distal portion of the catheter from a first configuration to a second configuration to cause it to contact an inner wall of the blood vessel at the target location with the distal portion; delivering a therapy from at least one therapy delivery member disposed along the distal portion of the catheter to destroy the nerve fibers along a length of the nerve; and removing the catheter from the pulmonary blood vessel and from the patient.