Systems and methods for perivascular nerve denervation

Abstract

Provided is a catheter including a shaft having a distal end and a loop disposed near the distal end and configured to curl around a tissue and receive, via the shaft, energy to denervate at least a portion of the tissue. The loop includes: a body capable of bending to curl around the tissue; an electrode disposed on the body; and a substrate embedded in the body and separated from the electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter apparatus for perivascular nerve denervation, comprising:
 a shaft having a distal end; and   a loop disposed near the distal end and configured to curl around a tissue and receive, via the shaft, energy to denervate at least a portion of the tissue,   wherein the loop includes: a body capable of bending to curl around the tissue; an electrode disposed on the body; and a substrate embedded in the body and separated from the electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the electrode and the substrate includes a portion made of a shape-memory alloy and wherein a shape of the shape-memory alloy changes depending on a temperature thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the portion made of the shape-memory alloy is deformed to curl around the tissue when the temperature of the shape-memory alloy reaches a critical temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the substrate is larger than a width of the electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the energy received by the loop is at least one selected from the group consisting of radio-frequency (RF) energy, electrical energy, laser energy, ultrasonic energy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) energy, cryogenic energy, thermal energy. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the electrical energy includes bipolar energy or unipolar energy. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a loop further includes
 a sensor electrically insulated from the electrode and sensing at least one of an impedance of the electrode and a temperature of the tissue.   
     
     
         8 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is coated with an insulating material. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the loop is configured to curl to contact the tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the tissue includes at least one of a nerve, lymphatics and capillaries around an artery. 
     
     
         11 . A method for perivascular nerve denervation using a catheter having a loop, comprising:
 positioning the loop near a tissue, the loop including an electrode and a substrate;   delivering energy to at least one of the electrode and the substrate, thereby to cause the loop to curl around the tissue   causing the at least one of the electrode and the substrate to convert the energy into heat energy; and   denervating at least a portion of the tissue using the heat energy.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of positioning the loop includes introducing the loop through a percutaneous access site of a patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the energy delivered is at least one selected from the group consisting of radio-frequency (RF) energy, electrical energy, laser energy, ultrasonic energy, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) energy, cryogenic energy, thermal energy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sensing an impedance of the electrode or a temperature of the tissue through a sensor which is disposed on the loop.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue includes at least one of a nerve, lymphatics and capillaries around an artery. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of delivering energy includes
 delivering sequentially energy to the tissue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the electrode and the substrate includes a portion made of a shape-memory alloy and wherein a shape of the shape-memory alloy changes depending on a temperature thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion made of the shape-memory alloy is deformed to curl around the tissue when the temperature of the shape-memory alloy reaches a critical temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the substrate is larger than a width of the electrode.