Cooled microwave denervation catheter configuration

Abstract

A cooled microwave denervation catheter includes a catheter body having at least one fluid passage and an interior lumen therein, a balloon in communication with the at least one fluid passage to receive cooling fluid to inflate the balloon, and a microwave antenna catheter configured to be inserted into the interior lumen of the catheter body. The microwave antenna catheter has a distal end configured to engage a taper of the interior lumen, thereby positioning the microwave antenna in a desired location of the interior lumen.

1 . A cooled microwave denervation catheter comprising:
 a catheter body having at least one fluid passage and an interior lumen therein, the interior lumen having a first portion in a first axial region, a second portion in a second axial region, and a taper between the first portion and the second portion, the second portion having a smaller diameter than the first portion;   a balloon in communication with the at least one fluid passage to receive cooling fluid for inflating the balloon into a shape that surrounds the catheter body at the first portion of the interior lumen, the cooling fluid having a temperature that is less than basal body temperature;   a microwave antenna catheter configured to be inserted into the interior lumen of the catheter body, the microwave antenna catheter including a coaxial cable and a microwave antenna connectable to a microwave generator to supply power to the microwave antenna to cause microwave energy to be emitted from the microwave antenna, wherein a distal end of the microwave antenna catheter is configured to engage the taper between the first portion and the second portion of the catheter body upon insertion into the interior lumen, thereby positioning the microwave antenna in the first portion of the interior lumen.