Method and system for tissue modulation

Abstract

A method of modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo, includes: fixating the tissue on a shaped device; and focusing radiation on the fixated tissue using a radiation-emitting system so as to modulate the tissue, wherein said radiation-emitting system is non-local with respect to said shaped device.

1 . A method of modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo, comprising:
 fixating the tissue on a shaped device; and   focusing radiation on the fixated tissue using a radiation-emitting system so as to modulate the tissue, wherein said radiation-emitting system is non-local with respect to said shaped device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focused radiation is focused ultrasound, said shaped device comprises a catheter, and said radiation emitting system is outside of a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fixating said tissue on said shaped device comprises causing said device to conform to a pre-known size and shape of said tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fixating said tissue on said shaped device comprises immobilizing said tissue with respect to said device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped device comprises a catheter with a balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation-emitting system is an ionizing radiation emitting system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation-emitting system is a noninvasive radiation-emitting system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation comprises high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising scanning said focused radiation along a pre-determined path. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving signals indicative of a relative position of said radiation-emitting system with respect to said shaped device, wherein said scanning is responsive to said relative position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said scanning comprises moving said radiation-emitting system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said scanning is effected by a phased array radiation-emitting system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped device comprises a sensor operable to detect and report energy transmitted by said radiation-emitting system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped device comprises a reflector operable to reflect energy transmitted by said radiation-emitting system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped device comprises an expandable portion sized and shaped to bring elements of said expandable portion into contact with an inner wall of a blood vessel when said expandable portion is expanded within said blood vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said expandable portion is constrained to a narrow configuration while being advanced through a blood vessel, and is opened into an expanded configuration when positioned at a treatment site. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, prior to said modulation of the tissue, operating said radiation-emitting system to emit non-damaging radiation, and correcting said path based on said emission of said non-damaging radiation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said radiation to modulate tissue is focused ultrasound, and said non-damaging radiation is diagnostic ultrasound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tissue is nerve tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said nerve is selected from the group consisting of a nerve leading to a kidney, a sympathetic nerve connected to a kidney, an afferent nerve connected to a kidney, an efferent nerve connected to a kidney, a renal nerve, a renal sympathetic nerve at a renal pedicle, a nerve trunk adjacent to a vertebra, a ganglion adjacent to a vertebra, a dorsal root nerve, an adrenal gland, a nerve next to a kidney, a nerve behind an eye, a celiac plexus, a nerve within a vertebral column, a nerve around a vertebral column, nerve extending to a facet joint and a celiac ganglion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said nerve is a renal artery nerve. 
     
     
         22 . A catheter system, comprising:
 a) a shaped device adapted for being introduced into a living body and being configured for fixating a tissue thereon so as to shape the tissue generally according to a shape of said device; and   b) at least one passive ultrasound sensor mounted on said device and configured for sensing at least one of: a position of said shaped device within a living body, and radiation emitted by an ultrasound radiation-emitting system being external to the body.   
     
     
         23 . A system for modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo, comprising:
 a shaped device adapted for being introduced into a living body and being configured for fixating a tissue thereon so as to shape the tissue generally according to a shape of said device;   a radiation-emitting system configured for emitting radiation from a location external to the body and focusing said radiation on the fixated tissue;   a scanning system operative to scan said radiation over said fixated tissue; and   a controller, configured for controlling said radiation-emitting system and said scanning system such that said scan is along a predetermined path corresponding to said shape of said device so as to from a modulation pattern on the tissue.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one sensor coupled to said shaped device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged at a plurality of discrete locations over said shaped device. 
     
     
         26 . A system for modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo, comprising:
 a shaped device adapted for being introduced into a living body;   a radiation-emitting system configured for emitting radiation from a location distant from said shaped device and for focusing said radiation on said shaped device; at least one sensor mounted on said device, and being configured for sensing said radiation; and   a data processor, configured for analyzing signals received from said at least one sensor and calculate at least one of: a relative location and a distance of a focal region of said radiation.