Methods and apparatus for performing renal neuromodulation via catheter apparatuses having inflatable balloons

Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/868,426, filed Apr. 23, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/620,173, filed Sep. 14, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,640, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/599,890, filed Nov. 14, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,891, which is a continuation-in-part application of each of the following:

(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/129,765, filed May 13, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,653,438, which (a) claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/616,254, filed Oct. 5, 2004, and 60/624,793, filed Nov. 2, 2004; and (b) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,665, filed Apr. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,303, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/370,190 filed Apr. 8, 2002; 60/415,575, filed Oct. 3, 2002; and 60/442,970, filed Jan. 29, 2003.

(2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/189,563 filed Jul. 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,145,316, which (a) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/129,765, filed May 13, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,653,438, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/616,254, filed Oct. 5, 2004, and 60/624,793, filed Nov. 2, 2004; and (b) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/900,199, filed Jul. 28, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,174, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,665, filed Apr. 8, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,303, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/370,190 filed Apr. 8, 2002; 60/415,575, filed Oct. 3, 2002; and 60/442,970, filed Jan. 29, 2003.

All the foregoing applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing a non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Several embodiments of such methods and apparatus are directed to circumferential treatments of the body lumen that apply energy in one or more discrete treatment areas to form one or more lesions that are not contiguous or continuous about any complete circumference of a cross-section normal to a longitudinal axis of the body lumen.

BACKGROUND

Applicants have described methods and apparatus for treating a variety of renal and cardio-renal diseases, such as heart failure, renal disease, renal failure, hypertension, contrast nephropathy, arrhythmia and myocardial infarction, by modulating neural fibers that contribute to renal function, e.g., denervating tissue containing the neural fibers that contribute to renal function. This is expected to reduce renal sympathetic nervous activity, which increases removal of water and sodium from the body, and returns renin secretion to more normal levels. Normalized renin secretion causes blood vessels supplying the kidneys to assume a steady state level of dilation/constriction, which provides adequate renal blood flow. See, for example, Applicants' U.S. Pat. Nos. (a) 7,162,303; (b) 7,653,438; (c) 8,145,316; (d) 7,620,451; (e) 7,617,005; and (f) 6,978,174. All of these applications and the patent are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Applicants also have previously described methods and apparatus for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation or denervation of an innervated blood vessel in a patient or any target neural fibers in proximity to a blood vessel, for example, to treat any neurological disorder or other medical condition. Nerves in proximity to a blood vessel may innervate an effector organ or tissue. Intravascularly-induced neuromodulation or denervation may be utilized to treat a host of neurological disorders or other medical conditions, including, but not limited to, the aforementioned conditions including heart failure and hypertension, as well as pain and peripheral arterial occlusive disease (e.g., via pain mitigation). The methods and apparatus may be used to modulate efferent or afferent nerve signals, as well as combinations of efferent and afferent nerve signals. See, for example, Applicants' co-pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0129760, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Although the foregoing methods are useful by themselves, one challenge of neuromodulation and/or denervation is sufficiently affecting the neural tissue from within the vessel. For example, intravascular neuromodulation should avoid increasing the risk of acute and/or late stenosis. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that further address these challenges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric detail view showing a common location of neural fibers proximate an artery.

FIGS. 2A-2J are schematic side views, partially in section, and cross-sectional views illustrating an example of methods and apparatus for a non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, partially in section, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the methods and apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view, partially in section, illustrating further alternative methods and apparatus for non-continuous circumferential treatments.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic side views, partially in section, illustrating still further alternative methods and apparatus for non-continuous circumferential treatments.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic side views, partially in section, illustrating additional alternative methods and apparatus for non-continuous circumferential treatments.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic side views, partially in section, illustrating alternative embodiments of the apparatus and methods of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view, illustrating a non-continuous circumferential treatment that is oblique to the lengthwise axis of the patient's vasculature.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic side views, partially in section, illustrating intravascular methods and apparatus for oblique circumferential treatment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic side views, partially in section, illustrating extravascular embodiments of methods and apparatus for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen, illustratively oblique circumferential treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A. Overview

The applicants have discovered that it may be desirable to perform a circumferential treatment of a body lumen to positively affect a medical condition by applying energy to discrete zones that are non-continuous along the complete circumference of a radial cross-section generally normal to the lumen wall. For example, in the treatment of atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmia, a circumferential treatment may be achieved by forming a continuous circumferential lesion that is continuous completely about a normal cross-section of the pulmonary vein to disrupt aberrant electrical signals. In the treatment of heart failure, a circumferential treatment may be achieved by forming a similar continuous circumferential lesion that is continuous completely about a normal cross-section of a renal artery to reduce renal sympathetic neural activity. However, continuous circumferential lesions that extend continuously about a full 360° of the circumference of a cross-section normal to the body lumen or tissue in proximity to the body lumen may increase a risk of acute and/or late stenosis formation within the blood vessel. Therefore, many of the embodiments described below are directed to forming discrete, non-continuous lesions normal of a lumen without adversely affecting the vessel.

Such non-continuous treatments may, for example, be conducted from an intravascular or intraluminal position, which can include treatment utilizing elements passed from an intravascular location to an extravascular location, i.e., intra-to-extravascular treatment. However, it should be understood that extravascular treatment apparatus and methods in accordance with the present invention also may be provided.

The treatments can be applied relative to nerves, including nervous tissue in the brain, or other target structures within or in proximity to a blood vessel or other body lumen that travel at least generally parallel or along a lengthwise dimension of the blood vessel (body lumen). The target structures can additionally or alternatively comprise a rotational orientation relative to the blood vessel (body lumen). Several disclosed embodiments of non-continuous circumferential treatments may reduce the risk of acute and/or late stenosis formation by treating neural matter along portions of multiple radial planes or cross-sections that are normal to, and spaced apart along, the lengthwise or longitudinal axis of the blood vessel (body lumen).

The treatment area at each radial plane or cross-section defines a treatment zone that is not completely continuous along a normal circumference, i.e., defines a treatment zone without a continuous circumferential lesion normal to the longitudinal axis. However, superimposition of the multiple treatment zones along the multiple radial planes or normal cross-sections defines a non-continuous, overlapping circumferential treatment zone along a lengthwise or longitudinal segment of the blood vessel (body lumen). In some embodiments, this overlapping treatment zone may provide a non-continuous, but substantially fully circumferential treatment without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion normal to the vessel (lumen). In other embodiments, the overlapping treatment zone may provide a non-continuous, partial circumferential treatment.

In this manner, a non-continuous circumferential treatment is performed over a lengthwise segment of the blood vessel (body lumen), as compared to a continuous circumferential treatment at a single normal cross-section or radial plane. Target structures substantially traveling along the lengthwise dimension of the blood vessel (body lumen) are thus circumferentially affected in a non-continuous fashion without formation of the continuous circumferential lesion along any normal cross-section or radial plane of the blood vessel (body lumen). This may reduce a risk of acute or late stenosis formation within the blood vessel (body lumen). A non-continuous circumferential treatment can thus comprise a treatment conducted at multiple positions about the lengthwise dimension of a body lumen, wherein the treatment zone at any one lengthwise position does not comprise a continuous circumferential lesion completely about a radial plane or normal cross-section, but wherein a superimposition of the treatment zones at all or some of the lengthwise positions may define an overlapping circumferential treatment zone.

The non-continuous circumferential treatment optionally may be achieved via apparatus positioned within a body lumen in proximity to target neural fibers for application of energy to the target neural fibers. The treatment may be induced, for example, via electrical and/or magnetic energy application, via thermal energy application (either heating or cooling), via mechanical energy application, via chemical energy application, via nuclear or radiation energy application, via fluid energy application, etc. Such treatment may be achieved, for example, via a thermal or non-thermal electric field, via a continuous or pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high intensity focused ultrasound, via thermal techniques, via athermal techniques, combinations thereof, etc. Such treatment may, for example, effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential blockade or attenuation, changes in cytokine up-regulation, ablation and other conditions in target neural fibers. All or a part of the apparatus optionally may be passed through a wall of the body lumen to an extraluminal location in order to facilitate the treatment. The body lumen may, for example, comprise a blood vessel, and the apparatus may be positioned within the blood vessel via well-known percutaneous techniques.

Treatment may be achieved via either direct alteration of the target structures (e.g., target neural structures) or at least in part via alteration of the vascular or other structures that support the target structures or surrounding tissue, such as arteries, arterioles, capillaries, veins or venules. In some embodiments, the treatment may be achieved via direct application of energy to the target or support structures. In other embodiments, the treatment may be achieved via indirect generation and/or application of the energy, such as through application of an electric field or of high-intensity focused ultrasound that causes resistive heating in the target or supporting structures. Alternative thermal techniques also may be utilized.

In some embodiments, methods and apparatus for real-time monitoring of the treatment and its effects on the target or support structures, and/or in non-target tissue, may be provided. Likewise, real-time monitoring of the energy delivery apparatus may be provided. Power or total energy delivered, impedance and/or the temperature, or other characteristics of the target or non-target tissue, or of the apparatus, additionally or alternatively may be monitored.

When utilizing an electric field to achieve desired circumferential treatment, the electric field parameters may be altered and combined in any combination, as desired. Such parameters can include, but are not limited to, frequency, voltage, power, field strength, pulse width, pulse duration, the shape of the pulse, the number of pulses and/or the interval between pulses (e.g., duty cycle), etc. For example, suitable field strengths can be up to about 10,000 V/cm, and may be either continuous or pulsed. Suitable shapes of the electrical waveform include, for example, AC waveforms, sinusoidal waves, cosine waves, combinations of sine and cosine waves, DC waveforms, DC-shifted AC waveforms, RF waveforms, microwaves, ultrasound, square waves, trapezoidal waves, exponentially-decaying waves, and combinations thereof.

When utilizing a pulsed electric field, suitable pulse widths can be of any desired interval, for example, up to about 1 second. The field includes at least one pulse, and in many applications the field includes a plurality of pulses or is continuously applied, e.g., for up to several minutes. Suitable pulse intervals include, for example, intervals less than about 10 seconds. These parameters are provided as suitable examples and in no way should be considered limiting.

When utilizing thermal mechanisms to achieve the desired treatment, protective elements optionally may be provided to protect the non-target tissue, such as the smooth muscle cells, from thermal damage during the thermally-induced non-continuous circumferential treatment. For example, when heating target nerves or support structures, protective cooling elements, such as convective cooling elements, may be provided to protect the non-target tissue. Likewise, when cooling target nerves or support structures, protective heating elements, such as convective heating elements, may be utilized to protect the non-target tissue. Thermal energy may be applied either directly or indirectly for a brief or a sustained period of time in order to achieve, for example, desired neuromodulation or denervation. Feedback, such as sensed temperature and/or impedance, along target or non-target tissue or along the apparatus, optionally may be used to control and monitor delivery of the thermal energy.

The non-target tissue optionally may be protected during, e.g., the neuromodulation or denervation, by utilizing blood flow as a conductive and/or convective thermal sink that absorbs excess thermal energy (hot or cold). For example, when blood flow is not blocked, the circulating blood may provide a relatively constant temperature medium for removing the excess thermal energy from the non-target tissue during the procedure. The non-target tissue additionally or alternatively may be protected by focusing the thermal (or other) energy on the target or support structures, such that an intensity of the energy is insufficient to induce thermal damage in the non-target tissue distant from the target or support structures.

Additional and alternative methods and apparatus may be utilized to achieve a non-continuous circumferential treatment without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion, as described hereinafter. To better understand the structures of devices of the present invention and the methods of using such devices for non-continuous circumferential treatment, it is instructive to examine a common neurovascular anatomy in humans.

B. Neurovascular Anatomy Summary

FIG. 1 illustrates a common anatomical arrangement of neural structures relative to body lumens or vascular structures, typically arteries. Neural fibers N generally may extend longitudinally along the lengthwise dimension L of an artery A about a relatively small range of positions along the radial dimension r, often within the adventitia of the artery. The artery A has smooth muscle cells SMC that surround the arterial circumference and generally spiral around the angular dimension θ of the artery, also within a relatively small range of positions along the radial dimension r. The smooth muscle cells of the artery accordingly have a lengthwise or longer dimension generally extending transverse (i.e., non-parallel) to the lengthwise dimension of the blood vessel. The misalignment of the lengthwise dimensions of the neural fibers and the smooth muscle cells is defined as “cellular misalignment.”

The cellular misalignment of the nerves N and the smooth muscle cells SMC may be exploited to selectively affect the nerve cells with reduced effect on the smooth muscle cells. More specifically, a non-continuous circumferential treatment may be achieved by superimposing treatments undertaken along multiple radial or cross-sectional planes of the artery A that are separated along the lengthwise dimension L of the artery, rather than performing a continuous circumferential treatment along a single radial plane or cross-section of the artery. In this manner, due to the cellular misalignment, the lengthwise-oriented neural fibers may experience a full, non-continuous circumferential treatment, while the angularly-oriented smooth muscle cells may experience only a partial circumferential treatment. Monitoring elements optionally may be utilized to assess an extent of treatment induced in the nerves and/or in the smooth muscle cells, as well as to adjust treatment parameters to achieve a desired effect.

C. Embodiments of Apparatus and Methods for Non-Continuous Circumferential Treatment of a Body Lumen

FIGS. 2-7 and 9 illustrate examples of intravascular systems and methods for performing non-continuous circumferential treatments. The applicants have described intravascular and intra-to-extravascular systems for neuromodulation or denervation, for example, in Applicants' U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,653,438 and 7,620,451, both of which have been incorporated herein by reference. The applicants also have described extravascular systems for neuromodulation or denervation (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,145,316, incorporated herein by reference), and it should be understood that non-continuous circumferential treatments may be performed using extravascular (or extraluminal) systems, in addition to intravascular (intraluminal) or intra-to-extravascular (intra-to-extraluminal) systems (see FIGS. 10A and 10B). Applicants also have previously described thermal systems for neuromodulation or denervation, for example, in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,617,665.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2J, the embodiment of an apparatus 300 comprises a catheter 302 having an optional positioning element 304 (e.g., a balloon, an expandable wire basket, other mechanical expanders, etc.) and expandable electrode element 306 positioned along the shaft of the catheter and illustratively located over the positioning element. The electrode element 306 can have one or more electrodes 307 electrically coupled to a field generator 50 for delivery of an electric field to the target neural fibers. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the electrode(s) 307 of the electrode element 306 may comprise Peltier electrodes for heating or cooling the target neural fibers to modulate the fibers. The electrode(s) 307 optionally may be individually assignable and may be utilized in a bipolar fashion, and/or may be utilized in a monopolar fashion with an external ground pad attached to the exterior of the patient.

The field generator 50, as well as any of the electrode embodiments described herein, may be utilized with any embodiment of the present invention for delivery of an electric field with desired field parameters. The field generator 50 can be external to the patient. It should be understood that electrodes of embodiments described hereinafter may be electrically connected to the generator even though the generator is not explicitly shown or described with each embodiment. Furthermore, the field generator optionally may be positioned internal to the patient, and the electrodes and/or the field generator optionally may be temporarily or permanently implanted within the patient.

The positioning element 304 optionally may position or otherwise drive the electrode(s) 307 into contact with the vessel wall. The positioning element 304 may also comprise an impedance-altering element that alters the impedance within the vessel during the therapy to direct the electric field across the vessel wall. This may reduce an energy required to achieve desired neuromodulation or denervation and may reduce a risk of injury to non-target tissue. Applicants have previously described use of an impedance-altering element, for example, in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 7,756,583, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. When the positioning element 304 comprises an inflatable balloon, as in FIGS. 2A-J, the balloon may serve as both a centering and/or expansion element for the expandable electrode element 306, and as an impedance-altering electrical insulator for directing an electric field delivered via the electrode(s) 307 into or across the vessel wall for modulation of target neural fibers. Electrical insulation provided by the element 304 may reduce the magnitude of applied energy or other parameters of the electric field necessary to achieve desired modulation of the target fibers, up to and including full denervation of tissue containing the target fibers.

Furthermore, element 304 optionally may be utilized as a thermal element. For example, it may be inflated with a chilled fluid that serves as a heat sink for removing heat from tissue that contacts the element. Conversely, element 304 may be inflated with a warmed fluid that heats tissue in contact with the element. The thermal fluid within the element optionally may be circulated and/or exchanged within the positioning element 304 to facilitate more efficient conductive and/or convective heat transfer. Thermal fluids also may be used to achieve thermal neuromodulation via thermal cooling or heating mechanisms, as described in greater detail herein below.

The electrode(s) 307 can be individual electrodes (i.e., independent contacts), a segmented electrode with commonly connected contacts, or a single continuous electrode. Furthermore, the electrode(s) 307 may be configured to provide a bipolar signal, or the electrode(s) 307 may be used together or individually in conjunction with a separate patient ground pad for monopolar use. As an alternative or in addition to placement of the electrode(s) 307 along the expandable electrode element 306, as in FIG. 2, the electrode(s) 307 may be attached to the positioning element 304 such that they contact the wall of the artery upon expansion of the positioning element. In such a variation, the electrode(s) may, for example, be affixed to the inside surface, outside surface or at least partially embedded within the wall of the positioning element (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). In another embodiment, the electrode(s) do not contact the vessel wall, and may be positioned at any desired location within the vessel.

The electrode(s) 307 or any other portion of the apparatus 300, such as catheter 302 or element 304, additionally or alternatively may comprise one or more sensors, such as thermocouples 310, for monitoring the temperature or other parameters of the target tissue, the non-target tissue, the electrodes, the positioning element and/or any other portion of the apparatus 300 or of the patient's anatomy. The treatment regime may be controlled using the measured parameter(s) as feedback. This feedback may be used, for example, to maintain the parameter(s) below a desired threshold, for example, a threshold that may cause injury to the non-target tissues. Conversely, the feedback may be used to maintain the parameter(s) at or above a desired threshold, for example, a threshold that may induce a desired effect in the target tissues, such as neuromodulation of target neural fibers or denervation of tissues innervated by the target neural fibers. Furthermore, the feedback may be used to keep the parameter(s) within a range that will induce the desired effect in the target tissues without injuring the non-target tissues to an unacceptable extent. Multiple parameters (or the same or multiple parameters at multiple locations) optionally may be used as control feedback for ensuring the desired effects while mitigating the undesired effects while mitigating the undesired effects.

As seen in FIG. 2A, the catheter 302 may be delivered to a treatment site within the artery A (or within a vein or any other vessel in proximity to target neural fibers) in a low profile delivery configuration, for example, through the guide catheter or sheath 303. Alternatively, catheters may be positioned in multiple vessels for neuromodulation, e.g., within both an artery and a vein. Multi-vessel techniques for electric field neuromodulation have been described previously, for example, in Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 7,853,333, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Once positioned within the vasculature as desired, the optional positioning element 304 may be expanded to display the electrode element 306 and bring the electrode(s) 307 into contact with an interior wall of the vessel, as seen in FIG. 2B. An electric field then may be generated by the field generator 50, transferred through the catheter 302 to the electrode element 306 and the electrodes 307, and delivered via the electrode(s) 307 across the wall of the artery. The electric field modulates the activity along neural fibers within the wall of the artery or in proximity to the artery, e.g., at least partially denervates tissue or organ(s) innervated by the neural fibers. This may be achieved, for example, via ablation or necrosis or via non-ablative injury or other changes to the target neural fibers or supporting structures. The electric field also may induce electroporation in the neural fibers.

As seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2C taken along the radial plane I-I of FIG. 2B, the apparatus 300 illustratively comprises four electrodes 307 equally spaced about the circumference of the electrode element 306 and the positioning element 304. As seen in FIG. 2D, when utilized in a monopolar fashion in combination with an external ground (not shown; per se known), the circumferential segments treated by each electrode overlap to form discrete treatment zones TZI that are not continuous completely around the circumference of the artery in a radial plane normal to the vessel wall. As a result, there are discrete untreated zones UZI about the circumference of the artery.

As seen in FIG. 2E, the electrode element 306 may be collapsed about the radial dimension r of the artery such that the electrodes 307 do not contact the vessel wall, e.g., by collapsing the positioning element 304. The electrode element 306 may be rotated about the angular dimension θ of the artery to angularly reposition the electrodes 307 (best shown in FIG. 2G). This rotation may be achieved, for example, by angularly rotating the catheter 302. In FIG. 2E, the electrode element illustratively has been rotated approximately 45° about the angular dimension of the artery. In the embodiment of apparatus 300 shown in FIGS. 2A-G, the electrodes are equally spaced about the circumference of the apparatus such that a 45° angular rotation repositions the electrodes approximately halfway between the initial positions of the electrodes shown in FIG. 2D.

In addition to angular repositioning of the electrodes, the electrodes may be repositioned along the lengthwise or longitudinal dimension L of the artery, which is also shown in FIG. 2E as the longitudinal offset between the electrodes 307 and the radial plane I-I. Such lengthwise repositioning may occur before, after or concurrent with angular repositioning of the electrodes. As seen in FIG. 2F, once repositioned in both the lengthwise and angular dimensions, the electrode element 306 may be re-expanded about the radial dimension to contact the electrodes 307 with the vessel wall. An electric field then may be delivered via the angularly and lengthwise repositioned electrodes 307 along the normal radial plane II-II.

In FIG. 2G, the treatment along radial plane II-II of FIG. 2F creates treatment zone TZII and untreated zone UZII. As with the treatment zone TZI of FIG. 2D, the treatment zone TZII of FIG. 2G is not continuous about the complete circumference of the artery. FIGS. 2H and 2I allow comparison of the treatment zone TZI and the treatment zone TZII. The apparatus 300 is not shown in FIGS. 2H and 2I, e.g., the apparatus may have been removed from the patient to complete the procedure.

As shown, the untreated zones UZI and UZII along the radial planes I-I and II-II, respectively, are angularly offset from one another about the angular dimension θ of the artery (see FIG. 1). As seen in FIG. 2J, by superimposing the treatment zones TZI and TZII, which are positioned along different cross-sections or radial planes of the artery A, a composite treatment zone TZI-II is formed that provides a non-continuous, yet substantially circumferential treatment over a lengthwise segment of the artery. This superimposed treatment zone beneficially does not create a continuous circumferential lesion along any individual radial plane or cross-section normal to the artery, which may reduce a risk of acute or late stenosis formation, as compared to previous circumferential treatments that create a continuous circumferential lesion.

As discussed previously, non-continuous circumferential treatment by positioning electrodes at different angular orientations along multiple lengthwise locations may preferentially affect anatomical structures that substantially propagate along the lengthwise dimension of the artery. Such anatomical structures can be neural fibers and/or structures that support the neural fibers. Furthermore, such a non-continuous circumferential treatment may mitigate or reduce potentially undesirable effects induced in structures that propagate about the angular dimension of the artery, such as smooth muscle cells. The angular or circumferential orientation of the smooth muscle cells relative to the artery may at least partially explain why continuous circumferential lesions may increase a risk of acute or late stenosis.

Although in FIGS. 2A-J the electrode element 306 is expanded via the positioning element 304, it should be understood that expandable electrode elements or electrodes in accordance with the present invention additionally or alternatively may be configured to self-expand into contact with the vessel wall. For example, the electrodes may self-expand after removal of a sheath or a guide catheter 303 constraining the electrodes in a reduced delivery configuration. The electrodes or electrode elements may, for example, be fabricated from (or coupled to) shape-memory elements that are configured to self-expand. Self-expanding embodiments optionally may be collapsed for retrieval from the patient by re-positioning of a constraining sheath or catheter over the self-expanding elements. Optionally, the electrode element may be shapeable by a medical practitioner, e.g., in order to provide a desired wall-contacting profile.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the apparatus 300 having a self-expanding electrode element 306′. Positioning element 304 has been removed from the apparatus. In use, the apparatus 300 is advanced to a treatment site within sheath or guide catheter 303. The sheath is removed, and the element 306′ self-expands to bring the electrodes 307 into contact with the vessel wall. Advantageously, blood continues to flow through the artery A during formation of treatment zone TZI. The element 306′ then may be partially or completely collapsed (e.g., within sheath 303), angularly rotated relative to the vessel, laterally repositioned relative to the vessel, and re-expanded into contact with the vessel wall along a different radial plane or cross-section. Treatment may proceed at the new location and in the new angularly orientation in the presence of blood flow, e.g., to form overlapping treatment zone TZII that completes a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone TZI-II when superimposed with the treatment zone TZI. The element 306′ then may be re-collapsed, and the apparatus 300 may be removed from the patient to complete the procedure.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it may be desirable to achieve a non-continuous circumferential treatment without angular and/or lengthwise repositioning of electrodes or other energy delivery elements. To this end, in another embodiment an apparatus 400 comprises catheter 402 having actively-expandable or self-expanding basket 404 having proximal electrodes 406 and distal electrodes 408 spaced longitudinally apart from the proximal electrodes. The proximal electrodes 406 and distal electrodes 408 are also spaced apart radially about the basket and electrically coupled to the field generator 50 (see FIG. 2A). The proximal electrodes 406 can be positioned along different struts or elements of the basket than the distal electrodes. The proximal and distal electrodes are accordingly angularly and laterally offset from one another.

The proximal electrodes may be operated independently of the distal electrodes, and/or the proximal and distal electrodes all may be operated at the same polarity, e.g., in a monopolar fashion as active electrodes in combination with an external ground. Alternatively or additionally, the proximal electrodes may be utilized in a bipolar fashion with one another and/or the distal electrodes may be utilized in a bipolar fashion with one another. The proximal and distal electrodes preferably are not utilized together in a bipolar fashion. By treating with the distal electrodes 408, the treatment zone TZI of FIG. 2H may be formed about the artery. Treating with the proximal electrodes 406 may create the treatment zone TZII of FIG. 2I, which is angularly offset relative to the treatment zone TZI. Superimposition of the treatment zones TZI and TZII creates the non-continuous circumferential treatment zone TZI-II over a lengthwise segment of the artery.

The proximal and distal electrodes optionally may be utilized concurrently to concurrently form the treatment zones TZI and TZII. Alternatively, the electrodes may be operated sequentially in any desired order to sequentially form the treatment zones. As yet another alternative, the treatment zones may be formed partially via concurrent treatment and partially via sequential treatment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B describe additional apparatus and methods for non-continuous circumferential treatment without having to reposition electrodes or other energy delivery elements. As seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the apparatus 300 has an electrode element 306″ that comprises a flex circuit coupled to or positioned about the positioning element 304. The flex circuit is electrically coupled to the field generator 50 by wires that extend through or along the catheter 302 or by wireless. In FIG. 5A, the flex circuit comprises a collapsible cylinder positioned about the positioning element 304. In FIG. 5B, the flex circuit comprises individual electrical connections for each electrode 307, which may facilitate collapse of the flex circuit for delivery and retrieval. As with the electrodes of apparatus 400 of FIG. 4, the electrodes 307 of FIG. 7 are spaced at multiple lengthwise positions relative to the positioning element and the blood vessel. The electrodes may be operated as described previously to achieve a non-continuous circumferential treatment. As the electrodes 307 illustratively are positioned at three different lengthwise positions, the non-continuous circumferential treatment may, for example, be formed via superimposition of three treatment zones (one at each lengthwise position within the blood vessel).

With any of the embodiments described herein, during delivery of the electric field (or of other energy), blood within the vessel may act as a thermal sink (either hot or cold) for conductive and/or convective heat transfer for removing excess thermal energy from the non-target tissue (such as the interior wall of the vessel), thereby protecting the non-target tissue. This effect may be enhanced when blood flow is not blocked during energy delivery, for example, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 (it should be understood that a variation of the embodiments of FIG. 5 may provide for blood flow; for example, the electrode(s) may be brought into contact with the vessel wall via an expandable basket rather than via an inflatable balloon). Use of the patient's blood as a thermal sink is expected to facilitate delivery of longer or higher energy treatments with reduced risk of damage to the non-target tissue, which may enhance the efficacy of the treatment at the target tissue, for example, at target neural fibers.

In addition or as an alternative to utilizing the patient's blood as a thermal sink, a thermal fluid (hot or cold) may be injected, infused or otherwise delivered into the vessel to remove excess thermal energy and protect the non-target tissues. This method of using an injected thermal fluid to remove excess thermal energy from non-target tissues to protect the non-target tissues from thermal injury during therapeutic treatment of target tissues may be utilized in body lumens other than blood vessels. The thermal fluid may, for example, comprise chilled or room temperature saline (e.g., saline at a temperature lower than the temperature of the vessel wall during the therapy delivery). The thermal fluid may, for example, be injected through the device catheter or through a guide catheter. The thermal fluid injection may be in the presence of blood flow or with flow temporarily occluded. Occlusion of flow in combination with thermal fluid delivery may facilitate better control over the heat transfer kinetics along the non-target tissues, as well as optional injection of the fluid from a downstream location.

Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the apparatus 300 is described that comprises optional flow occlusion and thermal fluid injection. The optional occlusion/positioning element 304 illustratively is coupled to the guide catheter 303, and the catheter 302 may be repositioned relative to the guide catheter to reposition the electrode(s) 307, optionally without re-establishing flow through the vessel. In FIG. 6, the alternative electrode element 306′″ is self-expanding, and/or is shapeable (e.g., is formed from a spring steel) by a medical practitioner to provide a desired profile for positioning of the electrode(s) 307 into contact with the vessel wall.

The catheter 302 may be advanced within the renal artery RA in a reduced profile delivery configuration. Once properly positioned, the electrode element 306′″ may self-expand (or may be actively expanded) to bring the electrode(s) 307 into contact with the vessel wall, for example, by removing the electrode element from the lumen of the guide catheter. The element 304 also may be expanded (before, during or after expansion of the electrode element) in order to properly position the electrode within the vessel and/or to occlude blood flow within, e.g., the renal artery. An electric field, such as a monopolar electric field, may be delivered via the electrode(s) 307, e.g., between the electrode(s) and an external ground (not shown; per se known). The electric field may, for example, comprise a pulsed or continuous RF electric field that thermally induces neuromodulation (e.g., necrosis or ablation) in the target neural fibers. The therapy may be monitored and/or controlled, for example, via data collected with thermocouples or other sensors, e.g., impedance sensors.

In order to increase the power or duration of the treatment that may be delivered without damaging non-target tissue of the vessel wall to an unacceptable extent, a thermal fluid infusate I may be injected, e.g., through the guide catheter 303 to cool (heat) the non-target tissue, thereby mitigating damage to the non target tissue. The infusate may, for example, comprise chilled saline that removes excess thermal energy (hot or cold) from the wall of the vessel during thermal RF therapy.

Convective or other heat transfer between the non-target vessel wall tissue and the infusate I may facilitate cooling (heating) of the vessel wall at a faster rate than cooling (heating) occurs at the target neural fibers. This heat transfer rate discrepancy between the wall of the vessel and the target neural fibers may be utilized to modulate the neural fibers with reduced damage to the vessel wall. Furthermore, when utilizing a pulsed therapy, the accelerated heat transfer at the wall relative to the neural fibers may allow for relatively higher power or longer duration therapies (as compared to continuous therapies), due to the additional time between pulses for protective cooling at the vessel wall. Also, the interval between pulses may be used to monitor and/or control effects of the therapy.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, treatment at additional angular and lengthwise positions relative to the vessel wall may be achieved by rotation and lengthwise repositioning of the catheter 302. This may be repeated at as many lengthwise and/or angular positions as desired by the medical practitioner. The treatment(s) at each individual lengthwise position preferably do not form a continuous circumferential lesion normal to the vessel wall, while superimposition of the treatments at multiple such lengthwise positions preferably forms a non-continuous, partially or fully circumferential lesion, as described previously.

In the embodiment of the FIG. 6, the apparatus illustratively comprises a single electrode 307. However, multiple such electrodes optionally may be provided at multiple, angularly-offset positions, as in FIG. 7A. This may reduce the number of lengthwise positions where treatment needs to be conducted in order to achieve the non-continuous, substantially circumferential treatment of the present invention. In addition or as an alternative to angular offsetting, the electrodes optionally may be offset lengthwise from one another, such that treatment at the multiple lengthwise positions may be achieved concurrently or sequentially without necessitating lengthwise repositioning of the electrodes. FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment of apparatus 300 having multiple electrodes that are offset from one another both angularly and lengthwise. In such an embodiment, the relative angular and lengthwise positions of the electrodes may be fixed or may be dynamically alterable by the medical practitioner.

As described herein, a continuous circumferential lesion is a circumferential lesion that is substantially continuous in a radial plane normal to the vessel or luminal wall. Conversely, a non-continuous circumferential lesion may be non-continuous relative to a normal radial plane, but substantially continuous along an oblique plane of the vasculature that is not normal to the vessel wall. For example, as seen in dotted profile in FIG. 8, an oblique circumferential treatment OC may be achieved within the patient's vasculature, e.g., the patient's renal artery RA, without formation of a continuous circumferential treatment relative to a normal radial plane of the vasculature. The previously-described apparatus and methods of FIG. 5 may, for example, form such an oblique circumferential treatment OC.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate additional methods and apparatus for achieving such oblique circumferential treatments. In FIG. 9A, the apparatus 300 comprises a spiral or helical electrode element 307 that contacts the wall of the vasculature along one or more partial or complete oblique circumferences. The electrode element 307 may comprise a single continuous electrode over all or a portion of the spiral for formation of a continuous oblique treatment, and/or may comprise multiple discrete electrodes positioned along the spiral, e.g., for formation of a non-continuous circumferential treatment relative to both oblique and the normal planes of the vessel. Regardless of the form of the electrode element 307, the treatment zone(s) formed with the electrode may form a non-continuous circumferential treatment relative to the normal radial plane of the vasculature.

FIG. 9B illustrates an alternative embodiment of the apparatus and methods of FIG. 9A, in which the electrode element 307 comprises a double helix. This may facilitate formation of multiple, non-continuous treatment zones along one or more normal radial planes of the vessel. Continuous or non-continuous oblique treatments also may be achieved, while non-continuous normal circumferential treatments are achieved via superimposition of treatment at multiple locations (either discrete or continuous) along a lengthwise segment of the vasculature.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, extravascular variations are described. FIG. 10A illustrates a percutaneous or transcutaneous extravascular variation having electrode(s) configured for temporary placement about the renal vasculature of the patient. FIG. 10B illustrates an implantable extravascular variation configured for prolonged placement within the patient. As will be apparent to those of skill in the art, a composite extravascular variation also may be provided having some elements configured for temporary placement and some elements configured for prolonged placement. In one such variation, one or more electrodes may be implanted within the patient, and a pulse generator or battery charging unit, etc., may be placed external to the patient and/or may be placed within the patient only temporarily during treatment, diagnostics, charging, etc.

The apparatus and methods of FIG. 10 illustratively are configured for formation of partially or completely continuous oblique circumferential treatments that are non-continuous relative to normal radial planes of the patient's vasculature. However, it should be understood that alternative extravascular embodiments may comprise non-continuous normal circumferential treatments that are non-continuous about both the normal and lengthwise dimensions of the vasculature, as opposed to just the normal dimension, i.e., that are also non-continuous about the oblique section. See, for example, the treatments defined by the apparatus and methods of FIGS. 2-7.

In FIG. 10A, apparatus 500 comprises needle or trocar 503 that forms percutaneous access site P. Catheter 502 is advanced through the trocar into proximity of the patient's renal artery RA. Electrode element 507 spirals about the renal artery for formation of an oblique circumferential treatment, as described with respect to FIG. 9A. Electrode element 507 is electrically coupled to field generator 50 for delivery of a desired electrical treatment. The apparatus 500 optionally may be removed from the patient, and the access site P closed, after formation of the oblique circumferential treatment.

FIG. 10B illustrates an extravascular embodiment that is fully implantable and illustratively is configured for bilateral treatment of nerves innervating both of the patient's kidney. It should be understood that any of the previously described embodiments also may be utilized for bilateral treatment, either concurrently or sequentially. Apparatus 600 comprises first and second spiral electrode elements 607a and 607b that spiral about the patient's renal arteries. The electrode elements are electrically coupled to implantable field generator 650, e.g., via tunneled leads 652, for formation of the previously described oblique circumferential treatment.

FIGS. 2-7 and 9-10 illustratively describe electrical methods and apparatus for circumferential treatment without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion positioned normal to the lengthwise axis of the patient's vasculature. However, it should be understood that alternative energy modalities, including magnetic, mechanical, thermal, chemical, nuclear/radiation, fluid, etc., may be utilized to achieve the desired circumferential treatment without circumferential lesion. Furthermore, although FIGS. 2-7 and 9 illustratively comprise fully intravascular positioning of the apparatus, it should be understood that all or a portion of the apparatus in any of the embodiments may be positioned extravascularly as in FIG. 10, optionally via implantation and/or via an intra-to-extravascular approach.

Although preferred illustrative variations of the present invention are described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention. For example, although in the described embodiments of FIGS. 2-4 non-continuous circumferential treatment is achieved via superimposition of treatment at two locations, it should be understood that treatment at more than two locations may be superimposed to achieve the circumferential treatment, as described with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B. Furthermore, although in the described embodiments the methods are conducted in a blood vessel, it should be understood that treatment alternatively may be conducted in other body lumens. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for renal denervation, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter configured for intravascular placement within a renal artery of a human patient;
an inflatable balloon at a distal portion of the catheter, wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to vary between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration sized and shaped to fit within the renal artery; and
a plurality of electrodes attached to the inflatable balloon, wherein each electrode comprises at least one pair of bipolar contacts,
wherein, when the inflatable balloon is in the deployed configuration, the electrodes are offset from each other and positioned at different lengthwise positions along the balloon to define, at least in part, a helical pattern about the balloon,
wherein the electrodes are configured to deliver thermal radio frequency (RF) energy across an interior wall of the renal artery to target renal nerves to achieve at least partial renal denervation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the first and second electrodes are parts of a flex circuit on a surface of the inflatable balloon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the flex circuit terminates proximally of a distal end portion of the inflatable balloon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inflatable balloon is configured to bring the individual electrodes into apposition with an interior wall of the renal artery when the inflatable balloon is in the deployed configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the deployed configuration, the inflatable balloon is sized to occlude the renal artery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the electrodes is dynamically assignable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are configured to be energized concurrently.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are configured to be energized sequentially.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises four or more electrodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the individual electrodes are configured to deliver the thermal RF energy through an inner wall of the renal artery to the target renal nerves to reduce renal sympathetic nerve activity.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thermal RF energy from the electrodes is sufficient to reduce neural communication to and from a kidney of the patient.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the thermal RF energy from the electrodes is sufficient to cause at least partial ablation of the target renal nerves of the patient.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors at the distal portion of the catheter for monitoring and/or controlling effects of the thermal RF energy delivery.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a thermocouple for monitoring temperature.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the catheter and inflatable balloon are configured for placement within the renal artery over a guidewire.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a field generator external to the patient and electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes.

17. A renal neuromodulation system for treatment of a human patient, the system comprising:

an electric field generator configured to deliver a thermal RF field to renal nerves that modulate renal neural activity of the patient; and
a catheter comprising (a) a shaft having a lumen therethrough, (b) an inflatable distal balloon, and (c) a plurality of bipolar RF electrodes, wherein each electrode comprises a pair of bipolar contacts, and wherein the catheter is transformable between— a reduced profile delivery configuration for percutaneous intravascular placement within renal vasculature of the patient, and an expanded treatment configuration for delivering the thermal RF field to one or more of the renal nerves,
wherein the plurality of bipolar RF electrodes are electrically connectable to the electric field generator and are arranged about the inflatable balloon in a helical configuration for delivering the thermal RF field to one or more of the renal nerves to thermally induce modulation of a function of the one or more renal nerves when the inflatable balloon is at least partially located within the renal vasculature.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the electric field generator is configured to independently control each electrode.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein, when the catheter is in the expanded treatment configuration, the inflatable balloon is configured to maintain apposition with an interior wall of the renal vasculature throughout treatment.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the lumen is sized and shaped to receive a guide wire.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the individual bipolar RF electrodes comprise a plurality of bipolar contacts.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2130758 September 1938 Rose
2276995 March 1942 Milinowski
2276996 March 1942 Milinowski
3043310 July 1962 Milinowski
3127895 April 1964 Kendall et al.
3181535 May 1965 Milinowski
3270746 September 1966 Kendall et al.
3329149 July 1967 Kendall et al.
3522811 August 1970 Schwartz et al.
3563246 February 1971 Puharich et al.
3650277 March 1972 Sjostrand et al.
3670737 June 1972 Pearo
3760812 September 1973 Timm et al.
3774620 November 1973 Hansjurgens et al.
3794022 February 1974 Nawracaj et al.
3800802 April 1974 Berry et al.
3803463 April 1974 Cover
3894532 July 1975 Morey
3895639 July 1975 Rodler et al.
3897789 August 1975 Blanchard
3911930 October 1975 Hagfors et al.
3952751 April 27, 1976 Yarger
3987790 October 26, 1976 Eckenhoff et al.
4011861 March 15, 1977 Enger
4026300 May 31, 1977 DeLuca et al.
4055190 October 25, 1977 Tany et al.
4071033 January 31, 1978 Nawracaj et al.
4105017 August 8, 1978 Ryaby et al.
4141365 February 27, 1979 Fischell et al.
4266532 May 12, 1981 Ryaby et al.
4266533 May 12, 1981 Ryaby et al.
4305115 December 8, 1981 Armitage et al.
4315503 February 16, 1982 Ryaby et al.
4360019 November 23, 1982 Portner et al.
4379462 April 12, 1983 Borkan et al.
4405305 September 20, 1983 Stephen et al.
4454883 June 19, 1984 Fellus et al.
4467808 August 28, 1984 Brighton et al.
4487603 December 11, 1984 Harris
4530840 July 23, 1985 Tice et al.
4587975 May 13, 1986 Salo et al.
4602624 July 29, 1986 Naples et al.
4608985 September 2, 1986 Crish et al.
4649936 March 17, 1987 Ungar et al.
4671286 June 9, 1987 Renault et al.
4674482 June 23, 1987 Waltonen et al.
4692147 September 8, 1987 Duggan
4709698 December 1, 1987 Johnston et al.
4715852 December 29, 1987 Reinicke et al.
4774967 October 4, 1988 Zanakis et al.
4791931 December 20, 1988 Slate
4816016 March 28, 1989 Schulte et al.
4852573 August 1, 1989 Kennedy
4865845 September 12, 1989 Eckenhoff et al.
4976711 December 11, 1990 Parins et al.
4979511 December 25, 1990 Terry, Jr.
4981146 January 1, 1991 Bertolucci
4998532 March 12, 1991 Griffith
5006119 April 9, 1991 Acker et al.
5014699 May 14, 1991 Pollack et al.
5019034 May 28, 1991 Weaver et al.
5057318 October 15, 1991 Magruder et al.
5058584 October 22, 1991 Bourgeois et al.
5059423 October 22, 1991 Magruder et al.
5061492 October 29, 1991 Okada et al.
5094242 March 10, 1992 Gleason et al.
5111815 May 12, 1992 Mower
5112614 May 12, 1992 Magruder et al.
5125928 June 30, 1992 Parins et al.
5131409 July 21, 1992 Lobarev et al.
5137727 August 11, 1992 Eckenhoff
5188837 February 23, 1993 Domb
5193048 March 9, 1993 Kaufman et al.
5193539 March 16, 1993 Schulman et al.
5193540 March 16, 1993 Schulman et al.
5199428 April 6, 1993 Obel et al.
5203326 April 20, 1993 Collins et al.
5213098 May 25, 1993 Bennett et al.
5215086 June 1, 1993 Terry, Jr. et al.
5231988 August 3, 1993 Wernicke et al.
5234692 August 10, 1993 Magruder et al.
5234693 August 10, 1993 Magruder et al.
5251634 October 12, 1993 Weinberg
5251643 October 12, 1993 Osypka et al.
5263480 November 23, 1993 Wernicke et al.
5269303 December 14, 1993 Wernicke et al.
5282468 February 1, 1994 Klepinski
5282785 February 1, 1994 Shapland et al.
5286254 February 15, 1994 Shapland et al.
5299569 April 5, 1994 Wernicke et al.
5300068 April 5, 1994 Rosar et al.
5304120 April 19, 1994 Crandell et al.
5304206 April 19, 1994 Baker, Jr. et al.
5317155 May 31, 1994 King
5324255 June 28, 1994 Passafaro et al.
5324316 June 28, 1994 Schulman et al.
5334193 August 2, 1994 Nardella
5335657 August 9, 1994 Terry, Jr. et al.
5338662 August 16, 1994 Sadri
5351394 October 4, 1994 Weinberg
5358514 October 25, 1994 Schulman et al.
5368591 November 29, 1994 Lennox et al.
5370680 December 6, 1994 Proctor
5389069 February 14, 1995 Weaver
5397308 March 14, 1995 Ellis et al.
5397338 March 14, 1995 Grey et al.
5400784 March 28, 1995 Durand et al.
5405367 April 11, 1995 Schulman et al.
5423744 June 13, 1995 Gencheff et al.
5425364 June 20, 1995 Imran
5429634 July 4, 1995 Narciso, Jr.
5433739 July 18, 1995 Sluijter et al.
5439440 August 8, 1995 Hofmann
5454782 October 3, 1995 Perkins
5454809 October 3, 1995 Janssen
5458568 October 17, 1995 Racchini et al.
5458626 October 17, 1995 Krause
5458631 October 17, 1995 Xavier
5470352 November 28, 1995 Rappaport
5472406 December 5, 1995 de la Torre et al.
5478303 December 26, 1995 Foley-Nolan et al.
5484400 January 16, 1996 Edwards et al.
5494822 February 27, 1996 Sadri
5498238 March 12, 1996 Shapland et al.
5499971 March 19, 1996 Shapland et al.
5505700 April 9, 1996 Leone et al.
5507724 April 16, 1996 Hofmann et al.
5507791 April 16, 1996 Sit'ko et al.
5531778 July 2, 1996 Maschino et al.
5540730 July 30, 1996 Terry, Jr. et al.
5540734 July 30, 1996 Zabara
5553611 September 10, 1996 Budd et al.
5560360 October 1, 1996 Filler et al.
5569198 October 29, 1996 Racchini
5571147 November 5, 1996 Sluijter et al.
5571150 November 5, 1996 Wernicke et al.
5573552 November 12, 1996 Hansjurgens et al.
5584863 December 17, 1996 Rauch et al.
5589192 December 31, 1996 Okabe et al.
5599345 February 4, 1997 Edwards et al.
5618563 April 8, 1997 Berde et al.
5626576 May 6, 1997 Janssen
5626862 May 6, 1997 Brem et al.
5628730 May 13, 1997 Shapland et al.
5634462 June 3, 1997 Tyler et al.
5634899 June 3, 1997 Shapland et al.
5672174 September 30, 1997 Gough et al.
5688266 November 18, 1997 Edwards et al.
5689877 November 25, 1997 Grill, Jr. et al.
5690691 November 25, 1997 Chen et al.
5700282 December 23, 1997 Zabara
5700485 December 23, 1997 Berde et al.
5704908 January 6, 1998 Hofmann et al.
5707400 January 13, 1998 Terry, Jr. et al.
5711326 January 27, 1998 Thies et al.
5713847 February 3, 1998 Howard, III et al.
5722401 March 3, 1998 Pietroski et al.
5723001 March 3, 1998 Pilla et al.
5725563 March 10, 1998 Klotz et al.
5728396 March 17, 1998 Peery et al.
5747060 May 5, 1998 Sackler et al.
5755750 May 26, 1998 Petruska et al.
5756115 May 26, 1998 Moo-Young et al.
5772590 June 30, 1998 Webster, Jr.
5792187 August 11, 1998 Adams
5800464 September 1, 1998 Kieval
5807306 September 15, 1998 Shapland et al.
5810802 September 22, 1998 Panescu et al.
5814079 September 29, 1998 Kieval
5824087 October 20, 1998 Aspden et al.
5836935 November 17, 1998 Ashton et al.
RE35987 December 8, 1998 Harris et al.
5843069 December 1, 1998 Butler et al.
5861021 January 19, 1999 Thome et al.
5865787 February 2, 1999 Shapland et al.
5871449 February 16, 1999 Brown
5891181 April 6, 1999 Zhu et al.
5893885 April 13, 1999 Webster, Jr.
5906636 May 25, 1999 Casscells, III et al.
5906817 May 25, 1999 Moullier et al.
5913876 June 22, 1999 Taylor et al.
5916154 June 29, 1999 Hobbs et al.
5916239 June 29, 1999 Geddes et al.
5919187 July 6, 1999 Guglielmi et al.
5924997 July 20, 1999 Campbell
5928272 July 27, 1999 Adkins et al.
5935075 August 10, 1999 Casscells et al.
5944710 August 31, 1999 Dev et al.
5954719 September 21, 1999 Chen et al.
5983131 November 9, 1999 Weaver et al.
5983141 November 9, 1999 Sluijter et al.
6006134 December 21, 1999 Hill et al.
6009877 January 4, 2000 Edwards
6010613 January 4, 2000 Walters et al.
6026326 February 15, 2000 Bardy
6041252 March 21, 2000 Walker et al.
6051017 April 18, 2000 Loeb et al.
6058328 May 2, 2000 Levine et al.
6058331 May 2, 2000 King
6066134 May 23, 2000 Eggers et al.
6073048 June 6, 2000 Kieval et al.
6077227 June 20, 2000 Miesel et al.
6086527 July 11, 2000 Talpade
6117101 September 12, 2000 Diederich et al.
6122548 September 19, 2000 Starkebaum et al.
6123718 September 26, 2000 Tu et al.
6135999 October 24, 2000 Fanton et al.
6146380 November 14, 2000 Racz et al.
6161048 December 12, 2000 Sluijter et al.
6171306 January 9, 2001 Swanson et al.
6178349 January 23, 2001 Kieval
6190353 February 20, 2001 Makower et al.
6192889 February 27, 2001 Morrish
6205361 March 20, 2001 Kuzma et al.
6208894 March 27, 2001 Schulman et al.
6214032 April 10, 2001 Loeb et al.
6219577 April 17, 2001 Brown, III et al.
6224592 May 1, 2001 Eggers et al.
6238702 May 29, 2001 Berde et al.
6245026 June 12, 2001 Campbell et al.
6246912 June 12, 2001 Sluijter et al.
6251130 June 26, 2001 Dobak, III et al.
6254598 July 3, 2001 Edwards et al.
6258087 July 10, 2001 Edwards et al.
6259952 July 10, 2001 Sluijter et al.
6269269 July 31, 2001 Ottenhoff et al.
6272377 August 7, 2001 Sweeney et al.
6272383 August 7, 2001 Grey et al.
6273886 August 14, 2001 Edwards et al.
6280377 August 28, 2001 Talpade
6287304 September 11, 2001 Eggers et al.
6287608 September 11, 2001 Levin et al.
6292695 September 18, 2001 Webster, Jr. et al.
6304777 October 16, 2001 Ben-Haim et al.
6304787 October 16, 2001 Kuzma et al.
6306423 October 23, 2001 Donovan et al.
6314325 November 6, 2001 Fitz
6322558 November 27, 2001 Taylor et al.
6322559 November 27, 2001 Daulton et al.
6326020 December 4, 2001 Kohane et al.
6326177 December 4, 2001 Schoenbach et al.
6328699 December 11, 2001 Eigler et al.
6334069 December 25, 2001 George et al.
6347247 February 12, 2002 Dev et al.
6353763 March 5, 2002 George et al.
6356786 March 12, 2002 Rezai et al.
6356787 March 12, 2002 Rezai et al.
6366808 April 2, 2002 Schroeppel et al.
6366815 April 2, 2002 Haugland et al.
6393324 May 21, 2002 Gruzdowich et al.
6400982 June 4, 2002 Sweeney et al.
6405079 June 11, 2002 Ansarinia
6405732 June 18, 2002 Edwards et al.
6413255 July 2, 2002 Stern
6415183 July 2, 2002 Scheiner et al.
6415187 July 2, 2002 Kuzma et al.
6438423 August 20, 2002 Rezai et al.
6442424 August 27, 2002 Ben-Haim et al.
6449507 September 10, 2002 Hill et al.
6450942 September 17, 2002 Lapanashvili et al.
6461314 October 8, 2002 Pant et al.
6464687 October 15, 2002 Ishikawa et al.
6473644 October 29, 2002 Terry, Jr. et al.
6482619 November 19, 2002 Rubinsky et al.
6488679 December 3, 2002 Swanson et al.
6506189 January 14, 2003 Rittman, III et al.
6508774 January 21, 2003 Acker et al.
6514226 February 4, 2003 Levin et al.
6516211 February 4, 2003 Acker et al.
6517811 February 11, 2003 John et al.
6522926 February 18, 2003 Kieval et al.
6522932 February 18, 2003 Kuzma et al.
6524607 February 25, 2003 Goldenheim et al.
6534081 March 18, 2003 Goldenheim et al.
6536949 March 25, 2003 Heuser
6564096 May 13, 2003 Mest
6571127 May 27, 2003 Ben-Haim et al.
6592567 July 15, 2003 Levin et al.
6599256 July 29, 2003 Acker et al.
6600954 July 29, 2003 Cohen et al.
6600956 July 29, 2003 Maschino et al.
6601459 August 5, 2003 Jenni
6605084 August 12, 2003 Acker et al.
6613045 September 2, 2003 Laufer et al.
6615071 September 2, 2003 Casscells, III et al.
6616624 September 9, 2003 Kieval
6620151 September 16, 2003 Blischak et al.
6622041 September 16, 2003 Terry, Jr. et al.
6622731 September 23, 2003 Daniel et al.
6635054 October 21, 2003 Fjield et al.
6654636 November 25, 2003 Dev et al.
6666845 December 23, 2003 Hooper et al.
6669655 December 30, 2003 Acker et al.
6671556 December 30, 2003 Osorio et al.
6672312 January 6, 2004 Acker
6676657 January 13, 2004 Wood
6681136 January 20, 2004 Schuler et al.
6684105 January 27, 2004 Cohen et al.
6690971 February 10, 2004 Schauerte et al.
6692738 February 17, 2004 MacLaughlin et al.
6697670 February 24, 2004 Chomenky et al.
6718208 April 6, 2004 Hill et al.
6735471 May 11, 2004 Hill et al.
6738663 May 18, 2004 Schroeppel et al.
6749598 June 15, 2004 Keren et al.
6786904 September 7, 2004 Doscher et al.
6795728 September 21, 2004 Chornenky et al.
6845267 January 18, 2005 Harrison et al.
6850801 February 1, 2005 Kieval et al.
6862479 March 1, 2005 Whitehurst et al.
6865416 March 8, 2005 Dev et al.
6885888 April 26, 2005 Rezai
6916656 July 12, 2005 Walters et al.
6927049 August 9, 2005 Rubinsky et al.
6936047 August 30, 2005 Nasab et al.
6939345 September 6, 2005 KenKnight et al.
6939346 September 6, 2005 Kannenberg et al.
6958060 October 25, 2005 Mathiesen et al.
6969388 November 29, 2005 Goldman et al.
6972013 December 6, 2005 Zhang et al.
6978174 December 20, 2005 Gelfand et al.
6985774 January 10, 2006 Kieval et al.
6994700 February 7, 2006 Elkins et al.
6994706 February 7, 2006 Chornenky et al.
7004911 February 28, 2006 Tu et al.
7054685 May 30, 2006 Dimmer et al.
7063679 June 20, 2006 Maguire et al.
7081114 July 25, 2006 Rashidi
7081115 July 25, 2006 Taimisto
7083614 August 1, 2006 Fjield et al.
7122019 October 17, 2006 Kesten et al.
7155284 December 26, 2006 Whitehurst et al.
7162303 January 9, 2007 Levin et al.
7191015 March 13, 2007 Lamson et al.
7291146 November 6, 2007 Steinke et al.
7373204 May 13, 2008 Gelfand et al.
7444183 October 28, 2008 Knudson et al.
7617005 November 10, 2009 Demarais et al.
7620451 November 17, 2009 Demarais et al.
7647115 January 12, 2010 Levin et al.
7653438 January 26, 2010 Deem et al.
7717948 May 18, 2010 Demarais et al.
7742795 June 22, 2010 Stone et al.
7756583 July 13, 2010 Demarais et al.
8019435 September 13, 2011 Hastings et al.
8131371 March 6, 2012 Demarals et al.
8145317 March 27, 2012 Demarais et al.
8150519 April 3, 2012 Demarais et al.
8150520 April 3, 2012 Demarais et al.
8175711 May 8, 2012 Demarais et al.
8401650 March 19, 2013 Simon et al.
20010044596 November 22, 2001 Jaafar
20020002329 January 3, 2002 Avitall
20020026222 February 28, 2002 Schauerte et al.
20020026228 February 28, 2002 Schauerte
20020032468 March 14, 2002 Hill et al.
20020038137 March 28, 2002 Stein
20020040204 April 4, 2002 Dev et al.
20020045853 April 18, 2002 Dev et al.
20020065541 May 30, 2002 Fredricks et al.
20020072782 June 13, 2002 Osorio et al.
20020107553 August 8, 2002 Hill et al.
20020116030 August 22, 2002 Rezai
20020120304 August 29, 2002 Mest
20020139379 October 3, 2002 Edwards et al.
20020165532 November 7, 2002 Hill et al.
20020165586 November 7, 2002 Hill et al.
20020169413 November 14, 2002 Keren et al.
20020177846 November 28, 2002 Mulier et al.
20020183682 December 5, 2002 Darvish et al.
20020183684 December 5, 2002 Dev et al.
20020188325 December 12, 2002 Hill et al.
20020198512 December 26, 2002 Seward
20030004549 January 2, 2003 Hill et al.
20030009145 January 9, 2003 Struijker-Boudier et al.
20030018367 January 23, 2003 DiLorenzo
20030040774 February 27, 2003 Terry et al.
20030045909 March 6, 2003 Gross et al.
20030050681 March 13, 2003 Pianca et al.
20030060848 March 27, 2003 Kieval et al.
20030060857 March 27, 2003 Perrson et al.
20030060858 March 27, 2003 Kieval et al.
20030074039 April 17, 2003 Puskas
20030100924 May 29, 2003 Foreman et al.
20030120270 June 26, 2003 Acker
20030125790 July 3, 2003 Fastovsky et al.
20030150464 August 14, 2003 Casscells
20030158584 August 21, 2003 Cates et al.
20030181897 September 25, 2003 Thomas et al.
20030181963 September 25, 2003 Pellegrino et al.
20030199747 October 23, 2003 Michlitsch et al.
20030199767 October 23, 2003 Cespedes et al.
20030199768 October 23, 2003 Cespedes et al.
20030199806 October 23, 2003 Kieval
20030199863 October 23, 2003 Swanson et al.
20030204161 October 30, 2003 Ferek-Petric
20030216792 November 20, 2003 Levin et al.
20030220521 November 27, 2003 Reitz et al.
20030233099 December 18, 2003 Danaek et al.
20030236443 December 25, 2003 Cespedes et al.
20040010289 January 15, 2004 Biggs et al.
20040010303 January 15, 2004 Bolea et al.
20040019364 January 29, 2004 Kieval et al.
20040019371 January 29, 2004 Jaafar et al.
20040064090 April 1, 2004 Keren et al.
20040064091 April 1, 2004 Keren et al.
20040065615 April 8, 2004 Hooper et al.
20040073238 April 15, 2004 Makower
20040082978 April 29, 2004 Harrison et al.
20040101523 May 27, 2004 Reitz et al.
20040106953 June 3, 2004 Yomtov et al.
20040111080 June 10, 2004 Harper et al.
20040127942 July 1, 2004 Yomtov et al.
20040162590 August 19, 2004 Whitehurst et al.
20040163655 August 26, 2004 Gelfand et al.
20040167415 August 26, 2004 Gelfand et al.
20040176699 September 9, 2004 Walker et al.
20040176757 September 9, 2004 Sinelnikov et al.
20040193228 September 30, 2004 Gerber
20040215186 October 28, 2004 Cornelius et al.
20040220511 November 4, 2004 Scott et al.
20040243102 December 2, 2004 Berg et al.
20040243206 December 2, 2004 Tadlock
20040249416 December 9, 2004 Yun et al.
20040254616 December 16, 2004 Rossing et al.
20050010263 January 13, 2005 Schauerte
20050021092 January 27, 2005 Yun et al.
20050038409 February 17, 2005 Segal et al.
20050049542 March 3, 2005 Sigg et al.
20050065562 March 24, 2005 Rezai
20050065573 March 24, 2005 Rezai
20050065574 March 24, 2005 Rezai
20050075681 April 7, 2005 Rezai et al.
20050080409 April 14, 2005 Young et al.
20050080459 April 14, 2005 Jacobson et al.
20050096647 May 5, 2005 Steinke et al.
20050096710 May 5, 2005 Kieval
20050153885 July 14, 2005 Yun et al.
20050154418 July 14, 2005 Kieval et al.
20050171523 August 4, 2005 Rubinsky et al.
20050171574 August 4, 2005 Rubinsky et al.
20050171575 August 4, 2005 Dev et al.
20050187579 August 25, 2005 Danek et al.
20050197624 September 8, 2005 Goodson et al.
20050209548 September 22, 2005 Dev et al.
20050209642 September 22, 2005 Palti
20050228460 October 13, 2005 Levin et al.
20050234523 October 20, 2005 Levin et al.
20050240126 October 27, 2005 Foley et al.
20050240173 October 27, 2005 Palti
20050240228 October 27, 2005 Palti
20050240241 October 27, 2005 Yun et al.
20050245882 November 3, 2005 Elkins et al.
20050245892 November 3, 2005 Elkins et al.
20050251116 November 10, 2005 Steinke et al.
20050251212 November 10, 2005 Kieval et al.
20050261672 November 24, 2005 Deem et al.
20050267010 December 1, 2005 Goodson et al.
20050282284 December 22, 2005 Rubinsky et al.
20060004417 January 5, 2006 Rossing et al.
20060004430 January 5, 2006 Rossing et al.
20060025821 February 2, 2006 Gelfand et al.
20060030814 February 9, 2006 Valencia et al.
20060036218 February 16, 2006 Goodson et al.
20060041277 February 23, 2006 Deem et al.
20060041283 February 23, 2006 Gelfand et al.
20060067972 March 30, 2006 Kesten et al.
20060069323 March 30, 2006 Elkins et al.
20060074453 April 6, 2006 Kieval et al.
20060079859 April 13, 2006 Elkins et al.
20060085046 April 20, 2006 Rezai et al.
20060089674 April 27, 2006 Walters et al.
20060095029 May 4, 2006 Young et al.
20060100618 May 11, 2006 Chan et al.
20060100667 May 11, 2006 Machado et al.
20060106429 May 18, 2006 Libbus et al.
20060111754 May 25, 2006 Rezai et al.
20060116720 June 1, 2006 Knoblich
20060121016 June 8, 2006 Lee
20060121610 June 8, 2006 Rubinsky et al.
20060135998 June 22, 2006 Libbus et al.
20060136004 June 22, 2006 Cowan et al.
20060149350 July 6, 2006 Patel et al.
20060155344 July 13, 2006 Rezai et al.
20060167437 July 27, 2006 Valencia
20060167498 July 27, 2006 DiLorenzo
20060167499 July 27, 2006 Palti
20060189941 August 24, 2006 Seward et al.
20060189960 August 24, 2006 Kesten et al.
20060190044 August 24, 2006 Libbus et al.
20060206149 September 14, 2006 Yun
20060206150 September 14, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060212076 September 21, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060212078 September 21, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060229677 October 12, 2006 Moffitt et al.
20060235286 October 19, 2006 Stone et al.
20060235474 October 19, 2006 Demarais
20060265014 November 23, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060265015 November 23, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060271111 November 30, 2006 Demarais et al.
20060276852 December 7, 2006 Demarais et al.
20070066957 March 22, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070066972 March 22, 2007 Ormsby et al.
20070083239 April 12, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070129720 June 7, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070129760 June 7, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070129761 June 7, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070135875 June 14, 2007 Demarais et al.
20070142864 June 21, 2007 Libbus et al.
20070156200 July 5, 2007 Kornet et al.
20070173899 July 26, 2007 Levin et al.
20070208382 September 6, 2007 Yun
20070265687 November 15, 2007 Deem et al.
20070282376 December 6, 2007 Shuros et al.
20070288070 December 13, 2007 Libbus et al.
20080004673 January 3, 2008 Rossing et al.
20080015659 January 17, 2008 Zhang et al.
20080039904 February 14, 2008 Bulkes et al.
20080091255 April 17, 2008 Caparso et al.
20080125772 May 29, 2008 Stone et al.
20080140150 June 12, 2008 Zhou et al.
20080161801 July 3, 2008 Steinke et al.
20080188912 August 7, 2008 Stone et al.
20080188913 August 7, 2008 Stone et al.
20080213331 September 4, 2008 Gelfand et al.
20080255642 October 16, 2008 Zarins et al.
20080262489 October 23, 2008 Steinke
20080319513 December 25, 2008 Pu et al.
20090024195 January 22, 2009 Rezai et al.
20090036948 February 5, 2009 Levin et al.
20090062873 March 5, 2009 Wu et al.
20090076409 March 19, 2009 Wu et al.
20100010567 January 14, 2010 Deem et al.
20100057150 March 4, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100076299 March 25, 2010 Gustus et al.
20100125239 May 20, 2010 Perry et al.
20100125268 May 20, 2010 Gustus et al.
20100137860 June 3, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100137952 June 3, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100168731 July 1, 2010 Wu et al.
20100168739 July 1, 2010 Wu et al.
20100168743 July 1, 2010 Stone et al.
20100174282 July 8, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100191112 July 29, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100222851 September 2, 2010 Deem et al.
20100222854 September 2, 2010 Demarais et al.
20100249773 September 30, 2010 Clark et al.
20100268307 October 21, 2010 Demarais et al.
20110060324 March 10, 2011 Wu et al.
20110112400 May 12, 2011 Emery et al.
20110130708 June 2, 2011 Perry et al.
20110137298 June 9, 2011 Nguyen et al.
20110178570 July 21, 2011 Demarais
20110200171 August 18, 2011 Beetel et al.
20110202098 August 18, 2011 Demarais et al.
20110257564 October 20, 2011 Demarais et al.
20110257622 October 20, 2011 Salahieh et al.
20110264011 October 27, 2011 Wu et al.
20110264075 October 27, 2011 Leung et al.
20110264086 October 27, 2011 Ingle
20110306851 December 15, 2011 Wang
20120029496 February 2, 2012 Smith
20120029500 February 2, 2012 Jenson
20120029509 February 2, 2012 Smith
20120029511 February 2, 2012 Smith et al.
20120029512 February 2, 2012 Willard et al.
20120071870 March 22, 2012 Salahieh et al.
20120095461 April 19, 2012 Herscher et al.
20120157986 June 21, 2012 Stone et al.
20120157987 June 21, 2012 Steinke et al.
20120157988 June 21, 2012 Stone et al.
20120157989 June 21, 2012 Stone et al.
20120157992 June 21, 2012 Smith et al.
20120157993 June 21, 2012 Jenson et al.
20120158101 June 21, 2012 Stone et al.
20120184952 July 19, 2012 Jenson et al.
20120191083 July 26, 2012 Moll et al.
20120271277 October 25, 2012 Fischell et al.
20120296232 November 22, 2012 Ng
20120296329 November 22, 2012 Ng
20130012866 January 10, 2013 Deem et al.
20130012867 January 10, 2013 Demarais
20130035681 February 7, 2013 Subramaniam et al.
20130053732 February 28, 2013 Heuser
20130085493 April 4, 2013 Bloom et al.
20130090649 April 11, 2013 Smith et al.
20130116687 May 9, 2013 Willard
20130123778 May 16, 2013 Richardson et al.
20130165916 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165917 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165923 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165924 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165925 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165926 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130165990 June 27, 2013 Mathur et al.
20130172815 July 4, 2013 Perry et al.
20130172872 July 4, 2013 Subramaniam et al.
20130172877 July 4, 2013 Subramaniam et al.
20130172881 July 4, 2013 Hill et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
202386778 August 2012 CN
3151180 August 1982 DE
29909082 July 1999 DE
10252325 May 2004 DE
10257146 June 2004 DE
0811395 December 1997 EP
1667595 June 2006 EP
1865870 December 2007 EP
1009303 June 2009 EP
2076193 July 2009 EP
2076194 July 2009 EP
2076198 July 2009 EP
2092957 August 2009 EP
2341839 July 2011 EP
2352542 August 2011 EP
2355737 August 2011 EP
2370015 October 2011 EP
2429641 March 2012 EP
2438877 April 2012 EP
2452648 May 2012 EP
2455034 May 2012 EP
2455035 May 2012 EP
2455036 May 2012 EP
2519173 November 2012 EP
2555699 February 2013 EP
2555699 February 2013 EP
2558016 February 2013 EP
2568905 March 2013 EP
2598068 June 2013 EP
2598070 June 2013 EP
2598071 June 2013 EP
WO-85/01213 March 1985 WO
WO-91/04725 April 1991 WO
WO-9220291 November 1992 WO
WO-93/02740 February 1993 WO
WO-93/07803 April 1993 WO
WO-94/00188 January 1994 WO
WO-94/11057 May 1994 WO
WO-95/25472 September 1995 WO
WO-95/33514 December 1995 WO
WO-96/00039 January 1996 WO
WO-96/04957 February 1996 WO
WO-96/11723 April 1996 WO
WO-97/13463 April 1997 WO
WO-97/13550 April 1997 WO
WO-9736548 October 1997 WO
WO-97/49453 December 1997 WO
WO-98/37926 September 1998 WO
WO-98/42403 October 1998 WO
WO-98/43700 October 1998 WO
WO-98/43701 October 1998 WO
WO-98/48888 November 1998 WO
WO-99/00060 January 1999 WO
WO-99/33407 July 1999 WO
WO-9942047 August 1999 WO
WO-99/51286 October 1999 WO
WO-99/52424 October 1999 WO
WO-9962413 December 1999 WO
WO-01/26729 April 2001 WO
WO-0122897 April 2001 WO
WO 0170114 September 2001 WO
WO-02/09808 February 2002 WO
WO-02/26314 April 2002 WO
WO-02/053207 July 2002 WO
WO-02/070039 September 2002 WO
WO-02/070047 September 2002 WO
WO-02/085448 October 2002 WO
WO-02085192 October 2002 WO
WO-03/018108 March 2003 WO
WO-03/028802 April 2003 WO
WO-03/063692 August 2003 WO
WO-03/071140 August 2003 WO
WO-03/076008 September 2003 WO
WO-03/082080 October 2003 WO
WO-03/082403 October 2003 WO
WO-2004/026370 April 2004 WO
WO-2004/026371 April 2004 WO
WO-2004/026374 April 2004 WO
WO-2004/030718 April 2004 WO
WO-2004/032791 April 2004 WO
WO-2004/107965 December 2004 WO
WO-2005/014100 February 2005 WO
WO-2005/016165 February 2005 WO
WO-2005/032646 April 2005 WO
WO-2005/041748 May 2005 WO
WO-2005041748 May 2005 WO
WO-2005/065284 July 2005 WO
WO-2005/084389 September 2005 WO
WO-2005/097256 October 2005 WO
WO-2005/110528 November 2005 WO
WO-2005107623 November 2005 WO
WO-2005/123183 December 2005 WO
WO-2006/007048 January 2006 WO
WO-2006/018528 February 2006 WO
WO-2006/022790 March 2006 WO
WO-2006/031899 March 2006 WO
WO-2006041847 April 2006 WO
WO-2006041881 April 2006 WO
WO-2006105121 October 2006 WO
WO-2007008954 January 2007 WO
WO-2007035537 March 2007 WO
WO-2007078997 July 2007 WO
WO-2007086965 August 2007 WO
WO-2007103879 September 2007 WO
WO-2007103881 September 2007 WO
WO-2007121309 October 2007 WO
WO-2007146834 December 2007 WO
WO-2008003058 January 2008 WO
WO-2008049082 April 2008 WO
WO-2008049084 April 2008 WO
WO-2008049087 April 2008 WO
WO-2008061150 May 2008 WO
WO-2008061152 May 2008 WO
WO-2008070413 June 2008 WO
WO-2009121017 October 2009 WO
WO-2010033940 March 2010 WO
WO-2010056745 May 2010 WO
WO-2010057043 May 2010 WO
WO-2010078175 July 2010 WO
WO-2010132703 November 2010 WO
WO-2011082278 July 2011 WO
WO-2011082279 July 2011 WO
WO-2011119857 September 2011 WO
WO-2011126580 October 2011 WO
WO-2011130534 October 2011 WO
WO-2011143468 November 2011 WO
WO-2012016135 February 2012 WO
WO-2012016137 February 2012 WO
WO-2012075156 June 2012 WO
WO-2012122157 September 2012 WO
WO-2012130337 October 2012 WO
WO-2012131107 October 2012 WO
WO-2012135703 October 2012 WO
WO-2012174375 December 2012 WO
WO-2013013156 January 2013 WO
WO-2013028812 February 2013 WO
WO2013040201 March 2013 WO
WO-2013/055685 April 2013 WO
WO-2013049601 April 2013 WO
WO-2013052590 April 2013 WO
WO-2013070724 May 2013 WO
WO-2013096913 June 2013 WO
WO-2013096916 June 2013 WO
WO-2013096919 June 2013 WO
WO-2013096920 June 2013 WO
WO-2013096922 June 2013 WO
WO-2013101446 July 2013 WO
WO-2013101452 July 2013 WO
Other references
  • U.S. Appl. No. 60/813,589, filed Dec. 29, 2005, Demarais et al.
  • 2003 European Society of Hypertension—European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension, Guidelines Committee, Journal of Hypertension 2003, vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 1011-1053.
  • Aars, H. and S. Akre, Reflex Changes in Sympathetic Activity and Arterial Blood Pressure Evoked by Afferent Stimulation of the Renal Nerve, Feb. 26, 1999, Acta physiol. Scand., vol. 78, 1970, pp. 184-188.
  • Abramov, G.S. et al., Alteration in sensory nerve function following electrical shock, Burns vol. 22, No. 8, 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd., pp. 602-606.
  • Achar, Suraj, M.D., and Suriti Kundu, M.D., Principles of Office Anesthesia: Part I. Infiltrative Anesthesia, Office Procedures, American Family Physician, Jul. 1, 2002, vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 91-94.
  • Advanced Neuromodulation Systems' Comparison Chart, Dec. 16, 2008, pp. 1.
  • Advances in the role of the sympathetic nervous system in cardiovascular medicine, 2001 SNS Report, No. 3, Springer, Published with an educational grant from Servier, pp. 1-8.
  • Aggarwal, A. et al., Regional sympathetic effects of low-dose clonidine in heart failure. Hypertension. 2003;41:553-7.
  • Agnew, William F. et al., Evolution and Resolution of Stimulation-Induced Axonal Injury in Peripheral Nerve, May 21, 1999, Muscle & Nerve, vol. 22, Oct. 1999, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999, pp. 1393-1402.
  • Ahadian, Farshad M., M.D., Pulsed Radiofrequency Neurotomy: Advances in Pain Medicine, Current Pain and Headache Reports 2004, vol. 8, 2004 Current Science Inc., pp. 34-40.
  • Alexander, B.T. et al., Renal denervation abolishes hypertension in low-birth-weight offspring from pregnant rats with reduced uterine perfusion, Hypertension, 2005; 45 (part 2): pp. 754-758.
  • Alford, J. Winslow, M.D. and Paul D. Fadale, M.D., Evaluation of Postoperative Bupivacaine Infusion for Pain Management After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, vol. 19, No. 8, Oct. 2003 Arthroscopy Association of North America, pp. 855-861.
  • Allen, E.V., Sympathectomy for essential hypertension, Circulation, 1952, 6:131-140.
  • Amersham Health. Hypaque-Cysto, 2003, 6 pages.
  • Andrews, B.T. et al., The use of surgical sympathectomy in the treatment of chronic renal pain. Br J Urol. 1997; 80: 6-10.
  • Antman, Elliott M. and Eugene Braunwald, Chapter 37—Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Disease—A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 5th Edition, vol. 2, 1997, Edited by Eugene Braunwald, pp. 1184-1288.
  • Archer, Steffen et al., Cell Reactions to Dielectrophoretic Manipulation, Mar. 1, 1999, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1999 Academic Press, pp. 687-698.
  • Arentz, T. et al., Incidence of pulmonary vein stenosis 2 years after radiofrequency catheter ablation of refractory atrial fibrillation. European Heart Journal. 2003. 24; pp. 963-969.
  • Arias, M.D., Manuel J., Percutaneous Radio-Frequency Thermocoagulation with Low Temperature in the Treatment of Essential Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Surg. Neurol. 1986, vol. 25, 1986 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., pp. 94-96.
  • Aronofsky, David H., D.D.S., Reduction of dental postsurgical symptoms using nonthermal pulsed high-peak-power electromagnetic energy, Oral Surg., Nov. 1971, vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 688-696.
  • Aspelin, Peter, M.D., Ph.D. et al., Nephrotoxic Effects in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Angiography, Feb. 6, 2003, New England Journal of Medicine 2003, vol. 348, No. 6, 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society, pp. 491-499.
  • Atrial Fibrillation Heart and Vascular Health on Yahoo! Health. 2 pgs. <URL: http://health.yahoo.com/topic/heart/overview/article/healthwise/hw160872;ylt=AiBT43Ey74HQ7ft3jAb4C.sPu7cF> Feb. 21, 2006.
  • Augustyniak, Robert A. et al., Sympathetic Overactivity as a Cause of Hypertension in Chronic Renal Failure, Aug. 14, 2001, Journal of Hypertension 2002, vol. 20, 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 3-9.
  • Awwad, Ziad M., FRCS and Bashir A. Atiyat, GBA, JBA, Pain relief using continuous bupivacaine infusion in the paravertebral space after loin incision, May 15, 2004, Saudi Med J 2004, vol. 25 (10), pp. 1369-1373.
  • Badyal, D. K., H. Lata and A.P. Dadhich, Animal Models of Hypertension and Effect of Drugs, Aug. 19, 2003, Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2003, vol. 35, pp. 349-362.
  • Baker, Carol E. et al., Effect of pH of Bupivacaine on Duration of Repeated Sciatic Nerve Blocks in the Albino Rat, Anesth Analg, 1991, vol. 72, The International Anesthesia Research Society 1991, pp. 773-778.
  • Balazs, Tibor, Development of Tissue Resistance to Toxic Effects of Chemicals, Jan. 26, 1974, Toxicology, 2 (1974), Elsevier/North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 247-255.
  • Barajas, L. Innervation of the renal cortex. Fex Proc. 1978;37:1192-201.
  • Barrett, Carolyn J. et al., Long-term control of renal blood flow: what is the role of the renal nerves?, Jan. 4, 2001, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 280, 2001, the American Physiological Society 2001, pp. R1534-R1545.
  • Barrett, Carolyn J. et al., What Sets the Long-Term Level of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity, May 12, 2003, Integrative Physiology, Circ Res. 2003, vol. 92, 2003 American Heart Association, pp. 1330-1336.
  • Bassett, C. Andrew L. et al., Augmentation of Bone Repair by Inductively Coupled Electromagnetic Fields, May 3, 1974, Science, vol. 184, pp. 575-577.
  • Bassett, C. Andrew L., Fundamental and Practical Aspects of Therapeutic Uses of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs), Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, vol. 17, Issue 5, 1989, pp. 451-514.
  • Beebe, Stephen J. et al., Nanosecond pulsed electric fields modulate cell function through intracellular signal transduction mechanisms, Apr. 8, 2004, Physiol. Meas. 25, 2004, IOP Publishing Ltd. 2004, pp. 1077-1093.
  • Beebe, Stephen J., et al., Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (nsPEF) Effects on Cells and Tissues: Apoptosis Induction and Tumor Growth Inhibition, Oct. 11, 2001, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, vol. 30, No. 1, Feb. 2002, IEEE 2002, pp. 286-292.
  • Bello-Reuss, E. et al., Acute unilateral renal denervation in rats with extracellular volume expansion, Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine. F26-F32 Jul. 1975.
  • Bello-Reuss, E. et al., Effect of renal sympathetic nerve stimulation on proximal water and sodium reabsorption, J Clin Invest, 1976;57:1104-1107.
  • Bello-Reuss, E. et al., Effects of Acute Unilateral Renal Denervation in the Rat, J Clin Invest, 1975;56:208-217.
  • Berde, C. et al., Local Anesthetics, Anesthesia, Chapter 13, 5th addition, Churchill-Livingston, Philadelphia 2000, pp. 491-521.
  • Bhadra, Niloy and Kevin L. Kilgore, Direct Current Electrical Conduction Block of Peripheral Nerve, Feb. 25, 2004, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 12, No. 3, Sep. 2004, pp. 313-324.
  • Bhandari, A. and Ellias, M., Loin pain hematuria syndrome: Pain control with RFA to the Splanchanic plexus, The Pain Clinic, 2000, vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 323-327.
  • Bhatt, Deepak L. et al., Rhabdomyolysis Due to Pulsed Electric Fields, May 11, 1989, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Jul. 1990, pp. 1-11.
  • Bichet, D., et al., Renal intracortical blood flow and renin secretion after denervation by 6-hydroxydopamine. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1982;60:184-92.
  • Bigler, D. et al., Tachyphylaxis during postoperative epidural analgesia—new insights, Apr. 15, 1987, Letter to the Editor, Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1987, vol. 31, pp. 664-665.
  • Binder, Allan et al., Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy of Persistent Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, The Lancet, Saturday Mar. 31, 1984, The Lancet Ltd., pp. 695-698.
  • Black, M.D., Henry R., Resistant Hypertension 2004, presentation at Rush University Medical Center, Jul. 15, 2004, 40 pages.
  • Blad, B., et al., An Electrical Impedance index to Assess Electroporation in Tissue, Tissue and Organ (Therapy), 2001, Oslo, www.bl.uk <http://www.bl.uk> British Library, pp. 31-34.
  • Blair, M. L. et al, Sympathetic activation cannot fully account for increased plasma renin levels during water deprivation, Sep. 23, 1996, Am. J. Physiol., vol. 272, 1997, the American Physiological Society 1997, pp. R1197-R1203.
  • Blomberg, S.G., M.D., PhD, Long-Term Home Self-Treatment with High Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia in Patients with Severe Coronary Artery Disease, Mar. 29, 1994, Anesth Analg 1994, vol. 79, 1994 International Anesthesia Research Society, pp. 413-421.
  • Boehmer, J.P., Resynchronization Therapy for Chronic CHF: Indications, Devices and Outcomes. Penn State College of Medicine: Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute. Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2005, 31 slides.
  • Bourge, R.C., Heart Failure Monitoring Devices: Rationale and Status 28 pages, Feb. 2001.
  • Braunwald, E., Heart Disease, A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 5th Ed., vol. 2, 1997, pp. 480-481, 824-825, 1184-1288 and 1923-1925, W.B. Saunders Company.
  • Bravo, E.L., et al., Renal denervation for resistant hypertension, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2009, 3 pgs.
  • Bunch, Jared T. et al. Mechanisms of Phrenic Nerve Injury During Radiofrequency Ablation at the Pulmonary Vein Orifice. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiclody. vol. 16, No. 12. pp. 1318-1325. Dec. 2005.
  • Burkhoff, D., Interventional Device-Based Therapy for CHF Will Redefine Current Treatment Paradigms. Columbia University. 2004. 32 slides.
  • Burns, J. et al., Relationship between central sympathetic drive and magnetic resonance imaging-determined left ventricular mass in essential hypertension. Circulation. 2007;115:1999-2005.
  • Cahana, A. et al., Acute Differential Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Cell Survival During Exposure to Pulsed and Continuous Radiofrequency Energy, May 2003, The Journal of Pain, vol. 4, No. 4, © 2003 by the American Pain Society, pp. 197-202.
  • Cahana, Alex, M.D., Pulsed Radiofrequency: A Neurobiologic and Clinical Reality, May 17, 2005, Anesthesiology 2005, vol. 103, No. 6, Dec. 2005, 2005 American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., p. 1311.
  • Calaresu, F.R. et al., Haemodynamic Responses and Renin Release During Stimulation of Afferent Renal Nerves in the Cat, Aug. 12, 1975, J. Physiol. 1976, vol. 255, pp. 687-700.
  • Cameron, Tracy. Micromodular Implants to Provide Electrical Stimulation of Paralyzed Muscles and Limbs. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 44, No. 9, Sep. 1997. pp. 781-790.
  • Campese, V.M. et al., Renal afferent denervation prevents hypertension in rats with chronic renal failure. Hypertension. 1995;25:878-82.
  • Campese, V.M. et al., Renal Afferent Denervation Prevents the Progression of Renal Disease in the Renal Ablation Model of Chronic Renal Failure in the Rat, Am J Kidney Dis. 1995;26:861-5.
  • Campese, V.M., A new model of neurogenic hypertension caused by renal injury: pathophysiology and therapeutic implications, Clin Exp Nephrol (2003) 7: 167-171, Japanese Society of Nephrology 2003.
  • Campese, V.M., Neurogenic factors and hypertension in chronic renal failure, Journal of Nephrology, vol. 10, No. 4, 1997, Societa Italiana di Nefrologia, pp. 184-187.
  • Campese, V.M., Neurogenic factors and hypertension in renal disease. Kidney Int. 2000;57 Suppl 75:S2-3.
  • Canbaz, S. et al., Electrophysiological evaluation of phrenic nerve injury during cardiac surgery—a prospective, controlled clinical study. BioMed Central. 5 pgs. 2004.
  • Cardiac Glycosides, Heart Disease—A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine vol. 2, Edited by Eugene Braunwald, 5th Edition, 1997 WB Saunders Company, pp. 480-481.
  • Carls, G. et al., Electrical and magnetic stimulation of the intercostal nerves: a comparative study, Electromyogr, clin. Neurophysiol. 1997, vol. 37, pp. 509-512.
  • Carlson, Scott H. and J. Michael Wyss, e-Hypertension—Opening New Vistas, Introductory Commentary, Hypertension 2000, vol. 35, American Heart Association, Inc. 2000, p. 538.
  • Carson, P., Device-based Treatment for Chronic Heart Failure: Electrical Modulation of Myocardial Contractility. Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2005, 21 slides.
  • Chang, Donald C., Cell poration and cell fusion using an oscillating electric field, Biophysical Journal, vol. 56, Oct. 1989, Biophysical Society, pp. 641-652.
  • Chen, S.A. et al., Initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins: electrophysiological characteristics, pharmacological responses, and effects of radiofrequency ablataion, Circulation, 1999, 100:1879-1886.
  • Chin, J.L. et al., Renal autotransplantation for the loin pain-hematuria syndrome: long term follow up of 26 cases, J Urol, 1998, vol. 160, pp. 1232-1236.
  • Chiou, C.W. et al., Efferent Vagal Innervation of the Canine Atria and Sinus and Atrioventricular Nodes. Circulation. Jun. 1997. 95(11):2573-2584. Abstract only. 2 pgs.
  • Chobanian, Aram V. et al., Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, Nov. 6, 2003, Hypertension 2003, vol. 42, 2003 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 1206-1252.
  • Clinical Trials in Hypertension and Renal Diseases, Slide Source, www.hypertensiononline.org, 33 pages Aug. 13, 2001.
  • Conradi, E. and Ines Helen Pages, Effects of Continous and Pulsed Microwave Irradiation on Distribution of Heat in the Gluteal Region of Minipigs, Scand J Rehab Med, vol. 21, 1989, pp. 59-62.
  • Converse, R.L., Jr. et al., Sympathetic Overactivity in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure, N Engl J Med. Dec. 31, 1992, vol. 327 (27), pp. 1912-1918.
  • Cosman, E.R., Jr. et al., Electric and Thermal Field Effects in Tissue Around Radiofrequency Electrodes, Pain Medicine, vol. 6, No. 6, 2005, American Academy of Pain Medicine, pp. 405-424.
  • Cosman, E.R., Ph.D., A Comment on the History of the Pulsed Radiofrequency Technique for Pain Therapy, Anesthesiology Dec. 2005, vol. 103, No. 6, 2005 American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., p. 1312.
  • Crawford, William H. et al., Pulsed Radio Frequency Therapy of Experimentally Induced Arthritis in Ponies, Dec. 18, 1989, Can. J. Vet. Res. 1991, vol. 55, pp. 76-85.
  • Curtis, J.J. et al., Surgical theray for persistent hypertension after renal transplantation, Transplantation, 1981, 31(2):125-128.
  • Dahm, Peter et al., Efficacy and Technical Complications of Long-Term Continuous Intraspinal Infusions of Opioid and/or Bupivacaine in Refractory Nonmalignant Pain . . . , Oct. 6, 1997, The Clinical Journal of Pain, vol. 14, No. 1, 1998, Lippincott-Raven Publishers 1998, pp. 4-16.
  • Dahm, Peter O. et al., Long-Term Intrathecal Infusion of Opioid and/or Bupivacaine in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain, Neuromodulation, vol. 1, No. 3, 1998, International Neuromodulation Society 1998, pp. 111-128.
  • Dang, Nicholas C. et al., A Novel Approach to Increase Total Urine Output in Heart Failure: Renal Nerve Blockade, ACC 2005 poster; 1 page.
  • Daniel, Alan and Honig, Carl R. Does Histamine Influence Vasodilation Caused by Prolonged Arterial Occlusion or Heavy Exercise? The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. vol. 215 No. 2. Aug. 21, 1980. pp. 533-538.
  • Davalos, R. et al., Electrical Impedance Tomography for Imaging Tissue Electroporation, Jul. 25, 2003, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 51, No. 5, May 2004, IEEE 2004, pp. 761-767.
  • Davalos, R.V. et al., Tissue Ablation with Irreversible Electroporation, Sep. 7, 2004, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Feb. 2005, vol. 33, No. 2, 2005 Biomedical Engineering Society, pp. 223-231.
  • De Leeuw, Peter W. et al., Renal Vascular Tachyphylaxis to Angiotensin II: Specificity of the Response for Angiotensin, Dec. 28, 1981, Life Sciences, vol. 30, 1982 Pergamon Press Ltd., pp. 813-819.
  • Deng, Jingdong et al., The Effects of Intense Submicrosecond Electrical Pulses on Cells, Nov. 26, 2002, Biophysical Journal, vol. 84, Apr. 2003, Biophysical Society 2003, pp. 2709-2714.
  • Denton, Kate M. et al., Differential Neural Control of Glomerular Ultrafiltration, Jan. 30, 2004, Proceedings of the Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society Symposium: Hormonal, Metabolic and Neural Control of the Kidney, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (2004) 31, pp. 380-386.
  • Dev, Nagendu B., Ph.D. et al., Intravascular Electroporation Markedly Attenuates Neointima Formation After Balloon Injury of the Carotid Artery in the Rat, Journal of Interventional Cardiology, vol. 13, No. 5, 2000, pp. 331-338.
  • Dev, Nagendu B., Ph.D. et al., Sustained Local Delivery of Heparin to the Rabbit Arterial Wall with an Electroporation Catheter, May 5, 1998, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis, vol. 45, 1998, Wiley-Liss, Inc. 1998, pp. 337-345.
  • Devereaux, R.B. et al., Regression of Hypertensive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by Losartan Compared With Atenolol: The Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) Trial, Circulation, 2004, vol. 110, pp. 1456-1462.
  • Dibona, Gerald F. and Linda L. Sawin, Role of renal nerves in sodium retention of cirrhosis and congestive heart failure, Sep. 27, 1990, Am. J. Physiol. 1991, vol. 260, 1991 the American Physiological Society, pp. R298-R305.
  • Dibona, Gerald F. and Susan Y. Jones, Dynamic Analysis of Renal Nerve Activity Responses to Baroreceptor Denervation in Hypertensive Rats, Sep. 19, 2000, Hypertension Apr. 2001, American Heart Association, Inc. 2001, pp. 1153-1163.
  • Dibona, Gerald F. and Ulla C. Kopp, Neural Control of Renal Function, Physiological Reviews, vol. 77, No. 1, Jan. 1997, the American Physiological Society 1997, pp. 75-197.
  • Dibona, Gerald F. and Ulla C. Kopp, Role of the Renal Sympathetic Nerves in Pathophysiological States, Neural Control of Renal Function, vol. 77, pp. 142-197 Jan. 1997.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Functionally Specific Renal Sympathetic Nerve Fibers: Role in Cardiovascular Regulation, Mar. 6, 2001, American Journal of Hypertension, 2001, vol. 14, 2001 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. Published by Elsevier Science Inc., pp. 163S170S.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., L.L. Sawin, Effect of renal nerve stimulation on NaCl and H2O transport in Henle's loop of the rat,: 1982, American Physiological Society, F576-F580, 5 pgs.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Nervous Kidney—Interaction Between Renal Sympathetic Nerves and the Renin-Angiotensin System in the Control of Renal Function, Jun. 21, 2000, Hypertension 2000, vol. 36, 2000 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 1083-1088.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Neural Control of the Kidney—Past, Present and Future, Nov. 4, 2002, Novartis Lecture, Hypertension 2003, 41 part 2, 2002 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 621-624.
  • DiBona, Gerald F., Neural Control of the Kidney: Functionally Specific Renal Sympathetic Nerve Fibers, Starling Lecture, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, 2000, 279, 2000 The American Physiological Society, pp. R1517-R1524.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Peripheral and Central Interactions between the Renin-Angiotensin System and the Renal Sympathetic Nerves in Control of Renal Function, Annals New York Academy of Sciences, pp. 395-406 Jan. 25, 2006.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Renal Innervation and Denervation: Lessons from Renal Transplantation Reconsidered, Artificial Organs, vol. 11, No. 6, Raven Press, Ltd., 1987 International Society for Artificial Organs, pp. 457-462.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., Sympathetic Nervous System and the Kidney in Hypertension, Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension 2002, vol. 11, 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 197-200.
  • Dibona, Gerald F., The Sympathetic Nervous System and Hypertension, Dec. 4, 2003, Hypertension Highlights, Hypertension Feb. 2004, vol. 43, 2004 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 147-150.
  • Dibona, Gerald, LL Sawin, Effect of renal denervation on dynamic autoregulation of renal blood flow, Feb. 12, 2004, AmJ Physiol Renal Physiol 286, pp. F1209-F1218.
  • Dong, Jun et al. Incidence and Predictors of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Following Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using the Anatomic Pulmonary Vein Ablation Approach: Results from Paired Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. vol. 16, No. 8, Aug. 2005. pp. 845-852.
  • Dorros, Gerald, M.D., Renal Artery Stenting State of the Art, presentation, TCT, Washington D.C., Sep. 2003, 27 pages.
  • Dueck, Ron, M.D., Noninvasive Cardiac Output Monitoring, The Cardiopulmonary and Critical Care Journal, Chest, vol. 120, sec. 2, Aug. 2001, American College of Chest Physicians 2005, pp. 339-341, 5 pages.
  • Dunn, Matthew D. et al., Laparoscopic Nephrectomy in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease,Oct. 25, 1999, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 35, No. 4 Apr. 2000, National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 2000, pp. 720-725.
  • Durand, D.M., Electric Field Effects in Hyperexcitable Neural Tissue: A Review, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, vol. 106, No. 4, 2003 Nuclear Technology Publishing, pp. 325-331.
  • ECM 830 Specifications Sheet, tech@genetronics.com, 20-001796-01 Rev D, 2 pgs.
  • Effects of Renal Failure on the Cardiovascular System, 5th Edition Heart Disease, A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 2, Edited by Eugene Braunwald, 1997, W.B. Saunders Company, pp. 1923-1925.
  • Electrical Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds, Radiation Protection Standard, Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields—3 KHz to 300 GHz, Radiation Protection Series No. 3, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Apr. 1996, 322 pgs.
  • Electropermeabilization (Electroporation), Cyto Pulse Sciences, Inc., http://www.cytopulse.com/electroporation.html (last accessed Mar. 3, 2005), 3 pgs.
  • Electroporation based Technologies and Treatments, ESPE Newsletter No. 6, QLK 02002-2003, Jan. 2005, www.cliniporator.com, 4 pgs.
  • End-stage renal disease payment policies in traditional Medicare, Chapter 8, Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, Mar. 2001, Medpac, pp. 123-138.
  • Epidemiology of Renal Disease in Hypertension, slide presentation by hypertensiononline.org, 21 pages Mar. 30, 2001.
  • Erdine, Serap and Alev Arat-Ozkan, Resistant Hypertension, European Society of Hypertension Scientific Newsletter: Update on Hypertension Management 2003, vol. 4, No. 15, 2 pages.
  • Esler, M. et al., Mechanism of elevated plasma noradrenaline in the course of essential hypertension. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1986;8:S39-43.
  • Esler, M. et al., Noradrenaline release and the pathophysiology of primary human hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 1989; 2:140S-146S.
  • Esler, M. et al., Sympathetic nerve biology in essential hypertension, Clin and Exp Pharmacology and Physiology, 2001, 28:986-989.
  • European Examination Report; European Patent Application No. 07799148.7; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Jan. 19, 2010, 4 pgs.
  • European Examination Report; European Patent Application No. 09156661.2; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Jan. 19, 2010, 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 05806045.0; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Sep. 22, 2009, 8 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 05811851.4; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Oct. 1, 2009, 7 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 06847926.0; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Feb. 10, 2010, 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 07757925.8; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Apr. 29, 2010, 9 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 07798341.9; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing Aug. 4, 2011; 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 07799148.7; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Jul. 23, 2009, 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 07868755.5; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Jul. 28, 2010, 7 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 09156661.2; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Jul. 23, 2009, 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 09167937.3; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Nov. 11, 2009, 6 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 09168202.1; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Nov. 11, 2009, 5 pgs.
  • European Search Report; European Patent Application No. 09168204.7; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Date of Mailing: Nov. 19, 2009, 6 pgs.
  • Evelyn, K.A. et al., Effect of thoracolumbar sympathectomy on the clinical course of primary (essential) hypertension, Am J Med, 1960;28:188-221.
  • Ex parte Quayle Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,173; Mailed on May 28, 2009, 4 pgs.
  • Fact Book Fiscal Year 2003, National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Feb. 2004, 197 pgs.
  • Fajardo, J. et al., Effect of chemical sympathectomy on renal hydroelectrolytic handling in dogs with chronic caval constriction. Clin Physiol Biochem. 1986;4:252-6.
  • Fareed, Jawed, Ph.D. et al., Some Objective Considerations for the Use of Heparins and Recombinant Hirudin in Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angoplasty, Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis 1991, vol. 17, No. 4, 1991 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., pp. 455-470.
  • Ferguson, D.R. et al., Responses of the pig isolated renal artery to transmural electrical stimulation and drugs, Dec. 7, 1984, Br. J. Pharmac. 1985, vol. 84, The Macmillan Press Ltd. 1985, pp. 879-882.
  • Fernandez-Ortiz, Antonio, et al., A New Approach for Local Intravascular Drug Delivery—Iontophoretic Balloon, Intravascular Iontophoretic Local Delivery, Circulation, vol. 89, No. 4, Apr. 1994, pp. 1518-1522.
  • Fields, Larry E. et al., The Burden of Adult Hypertension in the United States 1999 to 2000—A Rising Tide, May 18, 2004, American Heart Association 2004, Hypertension Oct. 2004, pp. 1-7.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/233,814; Mailed on Jan. 29, 2009, 11 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/266,993; Mailed on Jan. 8, 2010, 7 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/363,867; Mailed on May 1, 2009, 8 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/451,728; Mailed on Jan. 13, 2009, 7 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,649; Mailed on Jan. 15, 2009, 10 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,723; Mailed on Apr. 5, 2010, 17 pgs.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,890; Mailed on Apr. 29, 2009, 9 pgs.
  • Fischell, Tim A. et al., Ultrasonic Energy: Effects on Vascular Function and Integrity, Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. 1991. 84;pp. 1783-1795.
  • Freeman, Scott A. et al., Theory of Electroporation of Planar Bilayer Membranes: Predictions of the Aqueous Area, Change in Capacitance, and Pore—Pore Separation, Feb. 23, 1994, Biophysical Journal, Jul. 1994, vol. 67, 1994 by the Biophysical Society, pp. 42-56.
  • Fukuoka, Yuko et al., Imaging of neural conduction block by neuromagnetic recording, Oct. 16, 2002, Clinical Neurophysiology, vol. 113, 2002, Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. 2002, pp. 1985-1992.
  • Fuster, Valentin et al. ACC/AHA/ESC Practice Guidelines: ACA/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation. JACC vol. 48, No. 4, Aug. 15, 2006.
  • Gami, Apoor S., M.D. and Vesna D. Garovic, M.D., Contrast Nephropathy After Coronary Angiography, Mayo Clin Proc. 2004, vol. 79, 2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, pp. 211-219.
  • Gattone II, Vincent H. et al., Contribution of Renal Innervation to Hypertension in Polycystic Kidney Disease in the Rat, University of Chicago Section of Urology, 16 pages, Mar. 17, 2008.
  • Gaylor, D.C. et al., Significance of Cell Size and Tissue Structure in Electrical Trauma, Jan. 26, 1988, J. theor. Biol. 1988, vol. 133, 1988 Academic Press Limited, pp. 223-237.
  • Gazdar, A.F. and G.J. Dammin, Neural degeneration and regeneration in human renal transplants, NEJM, Jul. 30, 1970, 283:222-244.
  • Gehl, Julie et al., In Vivo Electroporation of Skeletal Muscle: Threshold, Efficacy and Relation to Electric Field Distribution, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1428, 1999, Elsevier Science B.V. 1999, pp. 233-240, www.elsevier.com/locate/bba <http:www.elsevier.com/locate/bba>.
  • Getts, R.T. et al., Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy after bilateral nephrectomy, Nephrol Dial Transplant, 2006, vol. 21, pp. 1089-1091.
  • Ghoname, El-sayed A. et al., Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: an alternative to Tens in the management of sciatica, Apr. 26, 1999, Pain 1999, vol. 83, 1999 International Association for the Study of Pain / Published by Elsevier Science B.V., pp. 193-199.
  • Gimple, M.D., Lawrence et al., Effect of Chronic Subcutaneous or Intramural Administration of Heparin on Femoral Artery Restenosis After Balloon Angioplasty in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits, Laboratory Investigation, Circulation, vol. 86, No. 5, Nov. 1992, pp. 1536-1546.
  • Goldberger, Jeffrey J. et al., New technique for vagal nerve stimulation, Jun. 2, 1999, Journal of Neuroscience Methods 91, 1999, Elsevier Science B.V. 1999, pp. 109-114.
  • Gorbunov, F.E. et al., The Use of Pulsed and Continuous Short Wave Diathermy (Electric Field) in Medical Rehabilitation of the Patients with Guillan-Barre Syndrome and Other Peripheral Myelinopathies, May 6, 1994, 5 pages (most of article in Russian language).
  • Gottschalk, C.W., Renal nerves and sodium excretion, Ann. Rev. Physiol., 1979, 41:229-240.
  • Greenwell, T.J. et al., The outcome of renal denervation for managing loin pain haematuria syndrome. BJU International, 2004; 4 pgs.
  • Gruberg, Luis, M.D. et al., The Prognostic Implications of Further Renal Function Deterioration Within 48 h of Interventional Coronary Procedures in Patients with Pre-existent Chronic Renal Insufficiency, Jun. 19, 2000, Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2000, vol. 36, No. 5, 2000 by the American College of Cardiology, pp. 1542-1548.
  • Guimaraes, Sarfim. Vascular Adrenoceptors: An Update. pp. 319-356, Jun. 1, 2001.
  • Haissaguerre, M. et al., Spontaneous initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats orginating in the pulmonary veins, New England Journal of Medicine, 1998, 339: 659-666.
  • Hajjar, Ihab, M.D., M.S. and Theodore A. Kotchen, M.D., Trends in Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in the United States, 1988-2000, JAMA, Jul. 9, 2003, vol. 290, No. 2, pp. 199-206.
  • Hammer, Leah W. Differential Inhibition of Functional Dilation of Small Arterioles by Indomethacin and Glibenclamide. Hypertension. Feb. 2001 Part II. pp. 599-603.
  • Hampers, C.L. et al., A hemodynamic evaluation of bilateral nephrectomy and hemodialysis in hypertensive man, Circulation. 1967;35:272-288.
  • Hamza, M.D., Mohamed A. et al., Effect of the Duration of Electrical Stimulation on the Analgesic Response in Patients with Low Back Pain, Anesthesiology, vol. 91, No. 6, Dec. 1999, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. 1999, pp. 1622-1627.
  • Han, Hyo-Kyung and Gordon L. Amidon, Targeted Prodrug Design to Optimize Drug Delivery, Mar. 21, 2000, AAPS Pharmsci 2000, 2 (1) article 6, pp. 1-11.
  • Hansen, J.M. et al., The transplanted human kidney does not achieve functional reinnervation, Clin Science, 1994, vol. 87, pp. 13-20.
  • Hasking, G.J. et al., Norepinephrine spillover to plasma in patients with congestive heart failure: evidence of increased overall and cardiorenal sympathetic nervous activity. Circulation. 1986;73:615-21.
  • Hausberg, M. et al., Sympathetic nerve activity in end-stage renal disease, Circulation, 2002, 106: 1974-1979.
  • Heart Arrhythmia Heart and Vascular Health on Yahoo! Health. 13 pgs. <URL: http://health.yahoo.com/topic/heart/overview/article/mayoclinic/21BBE2B0-128D-4AA2-A5CE215065586678;ylt=Aqd9M5rNyHD0sbPOmHXFhLcPu7cF> Feb. 16, 2005.
  • Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2004 Update, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Dallas, Texas, 2003 American Heart Association, 52 pgs.
  • Heida, Tjitske, et al., Investigating Membrane Breakdown of Neuronal Cells Exposed to Nonuniform Electric Fields by Finite-Element Modeling and Experiments, May 9, 2002, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 49, No. 10, Oct. 2002, IEEE 2002, pp. 1195-1203.
  • Heuer, G.J., The surgical treatment of essential hypertension, Annals of Surgery, 1936; 104 (4): 771-786.
  • Higuchi, Yoshinori, M.D., Ph.D. et al, Exposure of the Dorsal Root Ganglion in Rats to Pulsed Radiofrequency Currents Activates Dorsal Horn Lamina I and II Neurons, Dec. 4, 2001, Experimental Studies, Neurosurgery, vol. 50, No. 4, Apr. 2002, pp. 850-856.
  • Hildebrand, Keith R., D.V.M., Ph.D. et al., Stability, Compatibility, and Safety of Intrathecal Bupivacaine Administered Chronically via an Implantable Delivery System, May 18, 2001, The Clinical Journal of Pain, vol. 17, No. 3, 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 239-244.
  • Hing, Esther, M.P.H. and Kimberly Middleton, B.S.N., M.P.H., National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2001 Outpatient Department Summary, Aug. 5, 2003, Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, No. 338, CDC, 32 pages.
  • Hodgkin, Douglas D. et al., Electrophysiologic Characteristics of a Pulsed Iontophoretic Drug-Delivery System in Coronary Arteries, Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 29(1):pp. 39-44, Jan. 1997, Abstract, 2 pgs.
  • Hopp, F.A. et al., Respiratory Responses to Selective Blockade of Carotid Sinus Baroreceptors in the Dog, Jun. 22, 2005, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 1998, vol. 275, 2005 American Physiological Society, pp. R10-R18.
  • Hortobagyi, Gabriel N., Randomized Trial of High-Dose Chemotherapy and Blood Cell Autographs for High-Risk Primary Breast Carcinoma, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 92, No. 3, Feb. 2, 2000, pp. 225-233.
  • Horwich, Tamara, M.D., New Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure, the heart.org satellite program, Rapid Review, CME Symposium presented on Nov. 8, 2004 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 4 pages.
  • Huang, Wann-Chu et al. Renal Denervation Prevents and Reverses Hyperinsulinemia-Induced Hypertension in Rats, Mar. 25, 1998, Hypertension 1998, vol. 32, 1998 American Heart Association, pp. 249-254.
  • Huang, Yifei et al., Remodeling of the chronic severely failing ischemic sheep heart after coronary microembolization: functional, energetic, structural and cellular responses, Jan. 8, 2004, Am J Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 2004, vol. 286, 2004 the American Physiological Society, pp. H2141-H2150.
  • Hughes, Gordon B., M.D. et al., A Comparative Study of Neuropathologic Changes Following Pulsed and Direct Current Stimulation of the Mouse Sciatic Nerve, Jun. 27, 1980, American Journal of Otolaryngology, Nov. 1980, vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 378-384.
  • Hypertension and Renal Disease: Mechanisms, Slide Show by www.hypertensiononline.org, 22 pages Mar. 30, 2001.
  • Hypertension Incidence and Prevalence, Age-Specific Rates, by Gender, B.C., 2001/2002, Graph, Chronic Disease Management, May 2003, British Columbia Ministry of Health Services, 1 page.
  • Implantable Neurostimulation Systems, Medtronic Neurological, http://medtronic.com/neuro/paintherapies/paintreatmentladder/pdf/implantablebrochure.pdf; Jan. 18, 1999.
  • Implantable Pump—The Medtronic MiniMed 2007 Implantable Insulin Pump System, Medtronic MiniMed 2004, 4 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2009/069334; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; Mailing Date: Mar. 1, 2010, 10 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US05/35693, Mailed on Mar. 8, 2006, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 29 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US05/35757, Mailed on Dec. 27, 2006, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 8 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US06/36120, Mailed on Jun. 25, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 10 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US06/41889, Mailed on Oct. 20, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 7 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US06/48822, Mailed on Aug. 15, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 12 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/633222, Mailed on Mar. 3, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 10 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/63324, Mailed on Oct. 10, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 10 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/66539, Mailed on Jan. 28, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 6 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/70799, Mailed on Jul. 2, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 7 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/72396, Mailed on Aug. 27, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 9 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/84701, Mailed on Aug. 21, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 11 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/84705, Mailed on Jul. 28, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 12 pgs.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion, PCT/US07/84708, Mailed on Aug. 11, 2008, Applicant: Ardian, Inc., 9 pgs.
  • International Search Report, PCT/US02/0039, Mailed Sep. 11, 2002, Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
  • International Search Report, PCT/US02/25712, Mailed on Apr. 23, 2003, Applicant: Cyberonics, Inc.
  • International Search Report, PCT/US03/08014, Mailed on Sep. 23, 2003, Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation.
  • International Search Report, PCT/US03/09764, Mailed on Oct. 28, 2003, Applicant: CVRX, Inc.
  • International Search Report, PCT/US04/38498, Mailed Feb. 18, 2005, Applicant: G & L Consulting, LLC, 4 pgs.
  • Introduction to Autonomic Pharmacology, Chapter 3, Part 2 Autonomic Pharmacology, pp. 18-26, May 24, 2002.
  • Isovue: Data Sheet. Regional Health Limited. 8 pgs. Mar. 11, 2003.
  • Israili, Z.H., Clinical pharmacokinetics of angiotensin II (AT) receptor blockers in hypertension, Journal of Human Hypertension, 2000, Macmillan Publishers Ltd., vol. 14, pp. S73-S86.
  • Janda, J., Impact of the electrical stimulation apparatus rebox on the course of ischemic renal damage in rats, British Library-The world's knowledge pp. 252-254 (translated and untranslated versions) 1996.
  • Janssen, Ben J.A. et al., Effects of complete renal denervation and selective afferent renal denervation on the hypertension induced by intrarenal norepinephrine infusion in conscious rats, Jan. 4, 1989, Journal of Hypertension 1989, vol. 7, No. 6, Current Science Ltd, pp. 447-455.
  • Jia, Jianping et al., Cold injury to nerves is not due to ischaemia alone, Brain. 121;pp. 989-1001. 1998.
  • Jia, Jianping et al.., The pathogenesis of non-freezing cold nerve injury: Observations in the rat, Brain. 120; pp. 631-646. 1997.
  • Jin, Yuanzhe et al., Pulmonary Vein Stenosis and Remodeling After Electrical Isolation for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: Short- and Medium-Term Follow-Up, PACE, vol. 27., Oct. 2004, pp. 1362-1370.
  • Johansson, Bjorn, Electrical Membrane Breakdown, A Possible Mediator of the Actions of Electroconvulsive Therapy, Medical Hypotheses 1987, vol. 24, Longman Group UK Ltd 1987, pp. 313-324.
  • Joles, J.A. et al., Causes and Consequences of Increased Sympathetic Activity in Renal Disease. Hypertension. 2004;43:699-706.
  • Jorgensen, William A. et al., Electrochemical Therapy of Pelvic Pain: Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) on Tissue Trauma, Eur J Surg 1994, Suppl 574, vol. 160, 1994 Scandinavian University Press, pp. 83-86.
  • Joshi, R. P. and K. H. Schoenbach, Mechanism for membrane electroporation irreversibility under high-intensity, ultrashort electrical pulse conditions, Nov. 11, 2002, Physical Review E 66, 2002, The American Physical Society 2002, pp. 052901-1-052901-4.
  • Joshi, R. P. et al., Improved energy model for membrane electroporation in biological cells subjected to electrical pulses, Apr. 9, 2002, Physical Review E, vol. 65, 041920-1, 2002 The American Physical Society, 8 pages.
  • Joshi, R. P. et al., Self-consistent simulations of electroporation dynamics in biological cells subjected to ultrashort electrical pulses, Jun. 21, 2001, Physical Review E, vol. 64, 011913, 2001 The American Physcial Society, pp. 1-10.
  • Joye, James D.et al., In Vivo Study of Endovascular Cryotherapy for the Prevention of Restenosis, 4 pages., 2003.
  • Kanduser, Masa et al., Effect of surfactant polyoxyethylene glycol (C12E8) on electroporation of cell line DC3F, Aug. 20, 2002, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 214, 2003, Elsevier Science B.V. 2002, pp. 205-217.
  • Kassab, S. et al., Renal denervation attenuates the sodium retention and hypertension associated with obesity, Hypertension, 1995, 25:893-897.
  • Katholi, R.E. et al., Importance of the renal nerves in established two-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertension, Hypertension, 1982, 4 (suppl II): II-166-II-174.
  • Katholi, R.E. et al., Role of the renal nerves in the pathogenesis of one-kidney renal hypertension in the rat, Hypertension, 1981, 3(4) 404-409.
  • Katholi, R.E., Renal nerves and hypertension: an update, Fed Proc., 1985, 44:2846-2850.
  • Katholi, Richard E., Renal nerves in the pathogenesis of hypertension in experimental animals and humans, Am. J. Physiol. vol. 245, 1983, the American Physiological Society 1983, pp. F1-F14.
  • Kaye, D.M. et al., Functional and neurochemical evidence for partial cardiac sympathetic reinnervation after cardiac transplantation in humans, Circulation, 1993, vol. 88, pp. 1101-1109.
  • Kelleher, Catherine L. et al., Characteristics of Hypertension in Young Adults with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Compared with the General U.S. Population, Jun. 9, 2004, American Journal of Hypertension 2004, pp. 1029-1034.
  • King, Ronald W. P., Nerves in a Human Body Exposed to Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, Jun. 7, 1999, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 46, No. 12, Dec. 1999, IEEE 1999, pp. 1426-1431.
  • Kinney, Brian M., M.D., High-Tech Healing—The evolution of therapeutic electromagnetic fields in plastic surgery, Plastic Surgery Products, Jun. 2004, pp. 32-36, 3 pages.
  • Kirchheim, H. et al., Sympathetic modulation of renal hemodynamics, renin release and sodium excretion, Klin Wochenschr, 1989, 67:858-864.
  • Klein, K. et al., Impaired autofeedback regulation of hypothalamic norepinephrine release in experimental uremia. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005;16:2081-7.
  • Knot, H. J. et al., Regulation of arterial diameter and wall [Ca2+] in cerebral arteries of rat by membrane potential and intravascular pressure. The Journal of Physiology. 1998. 508; pp. 199-209.
  • Kok, Lai Chow et al. Effect of Heating on Pulmonary Veins: How to Avoid Pulmonary Vein Stenosis. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. vol. 14, No. 3, Mar. 2003. pp. 250-254.
  • Kok, R. J. et al., Specific Delivery of Captopril to the Kidney with the Prodrug Captopril-Lysozyme, Aug. 16, 1998, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, vol. 288, No. 1, 1999 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, pp. 281-285.
  • Kon, V. Neural Control of Renal Circulation, Miner Electrolyte Metab. 1989;15:33-43.
  • Koomans, H.A., et al., Sympathetic hyperactivity in chronic renal failure: a wake-up call. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2004;15:524-37.
  • Kopp, U. et al., Dietary sodium loading increases arterial pressure in afferent renal-denervated rats, Hypertension, 2003, 42:968-973.
  • Kopp, U.C. et al., Renal sympathetic nerve activity modulates afferent renal nerve activity by PGE2-dependent activation of alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptors on renal sensory nerve fibers. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007;293:R1561-72.
  • Koyama, Shozo et al., Relative Contribution of Renal Nerve and Adrenal Gland to Renal Vascular Tone During Prolonged Canine Hemorrhagic Hypotension, Sep. 24, 1992, Circulatory Shock 1993, vol. 39, Wiley-Liss, Inc. 1993, pp. 269-274.
  • Kozak, Lola Jean, Ph.D et al., National Hospital Discharge Survey: 2001 Annual Summary with Detailed Diagnosis and Procedure Data, Vital and Health Statistics, Serices 13 No. 156, Jun. 2004, CDC, 206 pages.
  • Kumagai, K. et al. New Approach to Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation Using a Multielectrode Basket Catheter. Circulation Journal. 2006;70:88-93.
  • Lafayette, Richard A., M.D., How Does Knocking Out Angiotensin II Activity Reduce Renal Injury in Mice?, Jun. 14, 1999, Journal Club, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 35, No. 1, Jan. 2000, National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 2000, pp. 166-172.
  • Lavie, Peretz, Ph.D. and Victor Hoffstein, M.D., Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Possible Contributing Factor to Resistant Hypertension, Jun. 2001, Sleep 2001, vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 721-725.
  • Le Noble, J.L. et al., Pharmacological evidence for rapid destruction of efferent renal nerves in rats by intrarenal infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine. J Hypertens Suppl. 1985;3:S137-40.
  • Lee, Michael A. (editor). SPORTSMed. Connecticut State Medical Society Committee on the Medical Aspects of Sports. Fall/Winter 2005. 10 pgs.
  • Lee, Raphael C. et al., Biophysical Injury Mechanisms in Electronic Shock Trauma, Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng., 2000, vol. 2, Copyright © 2000 by Annual Reviews, pp. 477-509.
  • Lee, Raphael C. et al., Clinical Sequelae Manifested in Electrical Shock Survivors, Presentation by the Electrical Trauma Research Program, The University of Chicago, 37 pages Dec. 24, 2004.
  • Lee, Raphael C. et al., Membrane Biology and Biophysics, Chapter 25, Surgical Research, 2001 Academic Press, pp. 297-305.
  • Lee, Raphael C., M.D., Sc.D. and Michael S. Kolodney, S.B., Electrical Injury Mechanisms: Electrical Breakdown of Cell Membranes, Oct. 1, 1986, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nov. 1987, vol. 80, No. 5, pp. 672-679.
  • Lenoble, L.M. et al., Selective efferent chemical sympathectomy of rat kidneys. Am J Physiol. 1985;249:R496-501.
  • Ligtenberg, Gerry M.D. et al., Reduction of Sympathetic Hyperactivity by Enalapril in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure, Apr. 29, 1999, New England Journal of Medicine 1999, vol. 340, No. 17, 1999 Massachusetts Medical Society, pp. 1321-1328.
  • Lin, Vernon W. H. et al., High intensity magnetic stimulation over the lumbosacral spine evokes antinociception in rats, Apr. 16, 2002, Clinical Neurophysiology, vol. 113, 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd., pp. 1006-1012.
  • Lipfert, Peter, M.D. et al., Tachyphylaxis to Local Anesthetics Does Not Result form Reduced Drug Effectiveness at the Nerve Itself, Aug. 3, 1988, Anesthesiology 1989, vol. 70, pp. 71-75.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E. and Drew A. Hildebrandt, Renal Nerves Promote Sodium Excretion in Angiotensin-Induced Hypertension, Oct. 20, 1997, Hypertension 1998, vol. 31, part 2, 1998 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 429-434.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E. et al., Prolonged Activation of the Baroreflex Produces Sustained Hypotension, Harry Goldblatt Award, Nov. 26, 2003, Hypertension 2004, vol. 43, Part 2, 2004 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 306-311.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E. et al., Renal Nerves Promote Sodium Excretion During Long-Term Increases in Salt Intake, Oct. 23, 1998, Hypertension 1999, vol. 33, part II, 1999 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 487-492.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E. et al., Sustained influence of the renal nerves to attenuate sodium retention in angiotensin hypertension, Apr. 13, 2001, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, vol. 281, 2001 the American Physiological Society, pp. R434-R443.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E., et al., Baroreflexes prevent neurally induced sodium retention in angiotensin hypertension, American Journal Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, vol. 279, 2000 the American Physiological Society, pp. R1437-R1448.
  • Lohmeier, Thomas E., Interactions Between Angiotensin II and Baroreflexes in Long-Term Regulation of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity, Circulation Research, Jun. 27, 2003, American Heart Association, Inc.2003, pp. 1282-1284.
  • Luff, S.E. et al., Two types of sympathetic axon innervating the juxtaglomerular arterioles of the rabbit and rat kidney differ structurally from those supplying other arteries, May 1, 1991, Journal of Neurocytology 1991, vol. 20, 1991 Chapman and Hall Ltd., pp. 781-795.
  • Luippold, G. et al., Chronic renal denervation prevents glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetic rats, Nephrol Dial Transplant (2004) 19:342-347.
  • Lundborg, C. et al., Clinical experience using intrathecal (IT) bupivacaine infusion in three patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I), Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1999, vol. 43, pp. 667-678.
  • Maeder, Micha, M.D. et al., Contrast Nephropathy: Review Focusing on Prevention, Jun. 22, 2004, Journal of the American College of Cardiology Nov. 2, 2004, vol. 44, No. 9, 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, pp. 1763-1771.
  • Malpas, Simon C., What sets the long-term level of sympathetic nerve activity: is there a role for arterial baroreceptors?, Invited Review, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2004, vol. 286, 2004 the American Physiological Society, pp. R1-R12.
  • Mancia, G., Grassi, G., Giannattasio, C., Seravalle, G., Sympathetic actrivation of pathogenesis of hypertension and progression of organ damage, Hypertension 1999, 34 (4 Pt 2): 724-728.
  • Marenzi, Giancarlo, M.D. et al., The Prevention of Radiocontrast-Agent-Induced Nephropathy by Hemofiltration, New England Journal of Medicine, Oct. 2, 2003, vol. 349 (14), 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society, pp. 1333-1340.
  • Market for infusion pumps grows with an aging population, NWL 97-01, The BBI Newsletter, vol. 20, No. 2, Feb. 1, 1997, American Health Consultants, Inc., pp. 6.
  • Martin, Jason B. et al., Gene Transfer to Intact Mesenteric Arteries by Electroporation, Mar. 27, 2000, Journal of Vascular Research 2000, vol. 37, 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel, pp. 372-380.
  • McCreery, Douglas B. et al., Charge Density and Charge Per Phase as Cofactors in Neural Injury Induced by Electrical Stimulation, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 17, No. 10, Oct. 1990, pp. 996-1000.
  • McCullough, Peter A., M.D., MPH et al., Acute Renal Failure after Coronary Intervention: Incidence, Risk Factors and Relationship to Mortality, Apr. 14, 1997, AM J Med. 1997, vol. 103, 1997 Excerpta Medica, Inc., pp. 368-375.
  • McMurray, John J.V., M.D. and Eileen O'Meara, M.D., Treatment of Heart Failure with Spironolactone—Trial and Tribulations, Aug. 5, 2004, New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 351, No. 6, 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society, pp. 526-528.
  • McRobbie, D. and M.A. Foster, Thresholds for biological effects of time-varying magnetic fields, Dec. 16, 1983, Clin. Phys. Physiol. Meas. 1984, vol. 5, No. 2, 1984 The Institute of Physics, pp. 67-78.
  • Medtronic Inc., MiniMed 2007, Implantable Insulin Pump System (Shoreview, MN) 4 pgs.
  • Medtronic Neurostimulation Systems, Expanding the Array of Pain Control Solutions, informational pamphlet, 1999 Medtronic, Inc., 6 pages.
  • Medtronic, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Patient Management Guidelines for Clinicians, Medtronic, Inc. 1999, 115 pages.
  • Medtronic, SynchroMed Infusion System—Clinical Reference Guide for Pain Therapy, Medtronic, Inc. 1998, 198 pages.
  • Mehran, Roxana, Renal insufficiency and contrast nephropathy: The most common, least understood risk factor, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Columbia University Medical Center, 2005, 86 slides.
  • Mess, Sarah A., M.D. et al., Implantable Baclofen Pump as an Adjuvant in Treatment of Pressure Sores, Mar. 1, 2003, Annals of Plastic Surgery, vol. 51, No. 5, Nov. 2003, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2003, pp. 465-467.
  • Micro ETS Hyperhidrosis USA Hyperhidrosis USA. 2 pgs. <URL: http://www.hyperhidrosis-usa.com/Index.html>. Nov. 6, 2006.
  • Mihran, Richard T. et al., Temporally-Specific Modification of Myelinated Axon Excitability in Vitro Following a Single Ultrasound Pulse, Sep. 25, 1989, Ultrasound in Med. & Biol. 1990, vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 297-309.
  • Milkalav{hacek over (c)}i{hacek over (c)}, D. et al, A Validated Model of in Vivo Electric Field Distribution in Tissues for Electrochemotherapy and for DNA Electrotransfer for Gene Therapy, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1523, 2000, pp. 73-83, <http:www.elsevier.com/locate/bba>.
  • Mitchell, G. A. G., The Nerve Supply of the Kidneys, Aug. 20, 1949, Acta Anatomica, vol. X, Fasc. ½, 1950, pp. 1-37.
  • Morrisey, D.M. et al., Sympathectomy in the treatment of hypertension: Review of 122 cases, Lancet. 1953;1:403-408.
  • Moss, Nicholas G., Renal function and renal afferent and efferent nerve activity, Am. J. Physiol. 1982, vol. 243, 1982 the American Physiological Society, pp. F425-F433.
  • Munglani, Rajesh, The longer term effect of pulsed radiofrequency for neuropathic pain, Jun. 8, 1998, Pain 80, 1999, International Association for the Study of Pain 1999, Published by Elsevier Science B.V., pp. 437-439.
  • Naropin (ropivacaine HCI) Injection, RX only Description, AstraZeneca 2001, 3 pages.
  • National High Blood Pressure Education Program, 1995 Update of the Working Group Reports on Chronic Renal Failure and Renovascular Hypertension, presentation, 13 pages.
  • National Kidney Foundation, Are You At Increased Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease?, 2002 National Kidney Foundation, Inc., 14 pages.
  • Nelson, L. et al., Neurogenic Control of Renal Function in Response to Graded Nonhypotensive Hemorrahage in Conscious Dogs, Sep. 13, 1992, Am J. Physiol. 264, 1993, American Physiological Society 1993, pp. R661-R667.
  • Nikolsky, Eugenia, M.D. et al., Radiocontrast Nephropathy: Identifying the High-Risk Patient and the Implications of Exacerbating Renal Function, Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2003, vol. 4, Supp. 1, 2003 MedReviews, LLC, pp. S7-S14.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 10/408,665; Mailed on Mar. 21, 2006, 14 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/129,765; Mailed on May 18, 2007, 10 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/129,765; Mailed on Sep. 10, 2007, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/129,765; Mailed on Oct. 6, 2006, 30 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/133,925; Mailed on Oct. 8, 2008, 41 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,173; Mailed on Apr. 5, 2007, 33 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,173; Mailed on Sep. 10, 2007, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,298; Mailed Oct. 29, 2009, 8 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,298; Mailed on Apr. 5, 2007, 33 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,298; Mailed on Sep. 10, 2007, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/144,298; Mailed on Dec. 29, 2008, 7 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/145,122; Mailed on Apr. 11, 2007, 33 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/145,122; Mailed on Sep. 10, 2007, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/189,563; Mailed on May 28, 2009, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/233,814; Mailed on Jun. 17, 2008, 12 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/252,462; Mailed on Feb. 22, 2010, 6 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/266,993; Mailed on Jul. 8, 2009, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/266,993; Mailed on Dec. 30, 2008, 7 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/363,867; Mailed on Sep. 25, 2008, 10 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/368,553; Mailed on May 18, 2010, 4 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/368,553; Mailed on Oct. 7, 2009, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/368,809; Mailed on Dec. 3, 2009, 4 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/368,949; Mailed on Jun. 11, 2010, 6 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/368,971; Mailed on Aug. 24, 2010, 9 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/451,728; Mailed on Jun. 12, 2008, 41 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/451,728; Mailed on Jul. 2, 2009, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/451,728; Mailed on Dec. 28, 2009, 7 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/504,117; Mailed on Mar. 31, 2009, 10 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,649; Mailed on Mar. 30, 2009, 10 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,649; Mailed on Jun. 23, 2008, 9 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,723; Mailed on Jun. 26, 2009, 17 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,723; Mailed on Oct. 15, 2010, 16 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/599,882; Mailed on Jul. 6, 2009, 13 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/688,178; Mailed on Jun. 28, 2010, 5 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 11/840,142; Mailed on Apr. 3, 2009, 13 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 12/567,521; Mailed on Sep. 3, 2010, 9 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 12/616,708; Mailed Sep. 16, 2010, 10 pgs.
  • Non-Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 12/725,375; Mailed on Oct. 12, 2010, 14 pgs.
  • Nozawa, T.et al., Effects of Long Term Renal Sympathetic Denervation on Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction in Rats, Sep. 22, 2001, Heart Vessels, 2002, 16, Springer-Verlag 2002, pp. 51-56.
  • O'Hagan, K.P. et al., Renal denervation decreases blood pressure in DOCA-treated miniature swine with established hypertension, Am J Hypertens., 1990, 3:62-64.
  • Onesti, G. et al., Blood pressure regulation in end-stage renal disease and anephric man, Circ Res Suppl., 1975, 36 & 37: 145-152.
  • Osborn, et al., Effect of renal nerve stimulation on renal blood flow autoregulation and antinatriuresis during reductions in renal perfusion pressure, in Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, vol. 168, 77-81, 1981. (Abstract).
  • Packer, Douglas L. et al., Clinical Presentation, Investigation, and Management of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Complication Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. feb. 8, 2005. pp. 546-554.
  • Page, I.H. et al., The Effect of Renal Denervation on the Level of Arterial Blood Pressure and Renal Function in Essential Hypertension. J Clin Invest. 1935;14:27-30.
  • Page, I.H., et al., The Effect of Renal Efficiencyof Lowering Arterial Blood Pressure in Cases of Essential Nephritis, Hospital of the Rockefeller Institue, Jul. 12, 1934, 7 pgs.
  • Palmer, Biff, F., M.D., Managing Hyperkalemia Caused by Inhibitors of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, Aug. 5, 2004, The New England Journal of Medicine 2004, vol. 351;6, 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society, pp. 585-592.
  • Pappone, Carlo et al., [2005][P2-70] Safety Report of Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Ablation. A 9-Year Single-Center Experience on 6,442 Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Abstract only. 1 page, May 2005.
  • Pappone, Carlo et al., [2004][759] Pulmonary Vein Denervation Benefits Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Patients after Circumferential Ablation, Abstract only. 1 page, Jan. 5, 2004.
  • Pappone, Carol and Santinelli, Vincenzo. Multielectrode basket catheter: A new tool for curing atrial fibrillation? Heart Rhythm, vol. 3, Issue 4, pp. 385-386. Apr. 2006.
  • Peacock, J.M. and R. Orchardson, Action potential conduction block of nerves in vitro by potassium citrate, potassium tartrate and potassium oxalate, May 6, 1998, Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Munksgaard 1999, vol. 26, pp. 33-37.
  • Petersson, M. et al., Long-term outcome in relation to renal sympathetic activity in patients with chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2005;26:906-13.
  • Pettersson, A. et al., Renal interaction between sympathetic activity and ANP in rats with chronic ischaemic heart failure, Nov. 25, 1988, Acta Physiol Scand 1989, 135, pp. 487-492.
  • PHCL 762 Pharmacology of the Autonomic Nervous System, Chapter 2 and 6.8 in Mosby, http://www.kumc.edu/research/medicine/pharmacology/CAI/phcl762.html, last accessed Aug. 24, 2004, 14 pgs.
  • Pitt, B. et al., Effects of Eplerenone, Enalapril, and Eplerenone/Enalapril in Patients With Essential Hypertension and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: The 4E-Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Study, Circulation, 2003, vol. 108, pp. 1831-1838.
  • Pliquett, U., Joule heating during solid tissue electroporation, Oct. 22, 2002, Med. Biol. Eng. Comput., 2003, vol. 41, pp. 215-219.
  • Podhajsky R.J. et al, The Histologic Effects of Pulsed and Continuous Radiofrequency Lesions at 42 C to Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion and Sciatic Nerve, SPINE, vol. 30, No. 9, 2005, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Inc., pp. 1008-1013.
  • Pope, Jill. Fixing a Hole: Treating Injury by Repairing Cells. The New York Academy of Sciences. Jul. 6, 2006. 6 pgs.
  • Popovic, Jennifer R. and Margaret J. Hall, 1999 National Hospital Discharge Survey, Apr. 24, 2001, Advance Data, No. 319, CDC, pp. 1-17 & 20.
  • Practice Guidelines Writing Committee and ESH/ESC Hypertension Guidelines Committee, Practice Guidelines for Primary Care Physicians: 2003 ESH/ESC Hypertension Guidelines, Published in Journal of Hypertension 2003, vol. 21, No. 10: 1011-1053, European Society of Hypertension 2003, pp. 1779-1786.
  • Programmable Infusion System, Pumps and Pump Selection, Medtronic Pain Therapies, Medtronic, Inc. Sep. 5, 2001, 2 pgs.
  • Pucihar, Gorazd et al., The influence of medium conductivity on electropermeabilization and survival of cells in vitro, May 31, 2001, Bioelectrochemistry, vol. 54, 2001, Elsevier Science B.V. 2001, pp. 107-115.
  • Pulmonary Concepts in Critical Care Breath Sounds, http://rnbob.tripod.com/breath.htm, last accessed Aug. 23, 2004, 5 pages.
  • Pulmonary Function Testing, http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/˜daa/lecture/pft.htm, last accessed Aug. 23, 2004, 8 pages.
  • Purerfellner, Helmut and Martinek, Martin. Pulmonary vein stenosis following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Current Opinion in Cardiology. 20; pp. 484-490. 2005.
  • Purerfellner, Helmut et al., Pulmonary Vein Stenosis by Ostial Irrigated-Tip Ablation: Incidence, Time Course, and Prediction, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. vol. 14, No. 2, Feb. 2003. pp. 158-164.
  • Raji, A. R. M. and R. E. M. Bowden, Effects of High-Peak Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on the Degeneration and Regeneration of the Common Peroneal Nerve in Rats, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Aug. 1983, vol. 65-B, No. 4, 1983 British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery, pp. 478-492.
  • Ram, C. Venkata S., M.D., Understanding refractory hypertension, May 15, 2004, Patient Care May 2004, vol. 38, pp. 12-16, 7 pages from http://www.patientcareonline.com/patcare/content/printContentPopup.jsp?id=108324.
  • Ravalia, A. et al., Tachyphylaxis and epidural anaesthesia, Edgware General Hospital, Correspondence, p. 529, Jun. 1989.
  • Renal Parenchymal Disease, Ch. 26, 5th Edition Heart Disease, A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine vol. 2, Edited by Eugene Braunwald, WB Saunders Company, pp. 824-825 1997.
  • Ribstein, Jean and Michael H. Humphreys, Renal nerves and cation excretion after acute reduction in functioning renal mass in the rat, Sep. 22, 1983, Am. J. Physiol., vol. 246, 1984 the American Physiological Society, pp. F260-F265.
  • Richebe, Philippe, M.D. et al., Immediate Early Genes after Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment: Neurobiology in Need of Clinical Trials, Oct. 13, 2004, Anesthesiology Jan. 2005, vol. 102, No. 1, 2004 American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 1-3.
  • Rihal, Charanjit S. et al., Incidence and Prognostic Importance of Acute Renal Failure After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Mar. 6, 2002, Circulation May 14, 2002, vol. 10, 2002 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 2259-2264.
  • Rosen, S.M. et al., Relationship of Vascular Reactivity to Plasma Renin Concentration in Patients with Terminal Renal Failure, Proc. Dialysis Transplant Forum 1974, pp. 45-47.
  • Roth, Bradley J. and Peter J. Basser, A Model of the Stimulation of a Nerve Fiber by Electromagnetic Induction, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 37, No. 6, Jun. 1990, pp. 588-597.
  • Rudin, Asa, M.D. et al., Postoperative Epidural or Intravenous Analgesia after Major Abdominal or Thoraco-Abdominal Surgery, The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., Anesthesiology 2001, vol. 95, A-970, 1 page.
  • Rudnick, Michael R. et al., Contrast-induced nephropathy: How it develops, how to prevent it, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Jan. 2006, vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 75-87.
  • Rump, L.C., The Role of Sympathetic Nervous Activity in Chronic Renal Failure, J Clinical Basic Cardiology 2001, vol. 4, pp. 179-182.
  • Ruohonen, Jarmo et al., Modeling Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Using Magnetic Fields, Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, vol. 2, No. 1, 1997, Woodland Publications 1997, pp. 17-29.
  • Saad, Eduardo B. et al., Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Functional Characterization, Evolution, and Influence of the Ablation Strategy, Circulation. 108; pp. 3102-3107. 2003.
  • Sabbah, Hani N., Animal Models for Heart Failure and Device Development, Henry Ford Health System. 24 slides, Oct. 17, 2005.
  • Schauerte, P et al., Focal atrial fibrillation: experimental evidence for a pathophysiologic role of the autonomic nervous system, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 12(5). May 2001. Abstract only. 2 pgs.
  • Schauerte, P et al., Catheter ablation of cardiac autonomic nerves for prevention of vagal atrial fibrillation, Circulation. 102(22). Nov. 28, 2000. Abstract only. 2 pgs.
  • Schauerte, P et al., Transvenous parasympathetic nerve stimulation in the inferior vena cava and atrioventricular conduction, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 11(1). Jan. 2000. Abstract only. 2 pgs.
  • Scheiner, Avram, Ph.D., The design, development and implementation of electrodes used for functional electrial stimulation, Thesis paper, Case Western Reserve University, May 1992, 220 pages.
  • Scherlag, BJ and Po, S., The intrinsic cardiac nervous system and atrial fibrillation, Current Opinion in Cardiology. 21(1):51-54, Jan. 2006. Abstract only. 2 pgs.
  • Schlaich, M.P. et al., Relation between cardiac sympathetic activity and hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. Circulation. 2003;108:560-5.
  • Schlaich, M.P. et al., Sympathetic augmentation in hypertension: role of nerve firing, norepinephrine reuptake, and angiotensin neuromodulation, Hypertension, 2004, 43:169-175.
  • Schmitt, Joseph et al., Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography—Opening a Window into Coronary Artery Disease, LightLab Imaging, Inc. Business Briefing: European Cardiology 2005.
  • Schoenbach, Karl H. et al, Intracellular Effect of Ultrashort Electrical Pulses, Dec. 26, 2000, Bioelectromagnetics, vol. 22, 2001, Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2001, pp. 440-448.
  • Schrier, Robert et al., Cardiac and Renal Effects of Standard Versus Rigorous Blood Pressure Control in Autosomal-Dominant Polycistic Kidney Disease, Mar. 23, 2002, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Nephrology 2002, pp. 1733-1739.
  • Scremin, Oscar U., M.D., Ph.D. and Daniel P. Holschneider, M.D., 31 & 32.. An Implantable Bolus Infusion Pump for the Neurosciences, FRP, Apr. 2005, 3 pages.
  • Sensorcaine—MPF Spinal Injection, informational document, AstraZeneca 2001, 2 pgs.
  • Serrador, Jorge M., Autonomic Regulation of the Cardiovascular System, MIT Lecture, 8 pages, 48 slides.
  • Shah, D.C., Haissaguerre, M., Jais, P., Catheter ablation of pulmonary vein foci for atrial fibrillation: pulmonary vein foci ablation for atrial firbrillation, Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1999, 47 (suppl. 3): 352-356.
  • Shannon, J.L. et al., Studies on the innervation of human renal allografts, J Pathol. 1998, vol. 186, pp. 109-115.
  • Shlipak, M.G. et al., The clinical challenge of cardiorenal syndrome. Circulation. 2004;110:1514-7.
  • Shupak, Naomi M., Therapeutic Uses of Pulsed Magnetic-Field Exposure: A Review, Radio Science Bulletin Dec. 2003, No. 307, pp. 9-32.
  • Shu-Qing, Liu et al., Old spinal cord injury treated by pulsed electric stimulation, General Hospital of Beijing Command, Beijing, Dec. 6, 1990, 5 pages (full article in Chinese; abstract on last page).
  • Siegel, RJ et al., Clinical demonstration that catheter-delivered ultrasound energy reverses arterial vasoconstriction, Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 1992. 20; 732-735. Summary only. 2 pgs.
  • Simpson, B. et al., Implantable spinal infusion devices for chronic pain and spasticity: an accelerated systematic review, ASERNIP-S Report No. 42, Adelaide, South Australia, ASERNIP-S, May 2003, 56 pages.
  • Sisken, B.F. et al., 229.17 Influence of Non-Thermal Pulsed Radiofrequency Fields (PRF) on Neurite Outgrowth, Society for Neuroscience, vol. 21, 1995, 2 pages.
  • Skeie, B. et al., Effect of chronic bupivacaine infusion on seizure threshold to bupivacaine, Dec. 28, 1986, Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1987, vol. 31, pp. 423-425.
  • Skopec, M., A Primer on Medical Device Interactions with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems, Feb. 4, 1997, CDRH Magnetic Resonance Working Group, U.S. Department of Heatlh and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Updated May 23, 1997, 17 pages, http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/primerf6.html, (last accessed Jan. 23, 2006.
  • Slappendel, Robert et al., The efficacy of radiofrequency lesioning of the cervical spinal dorsal root ganglion in a double blinded randomized study, Jun. 26, 1997, Pain 73, 1997 International Association for the Study of Pain, Elsevier Science B.V., pp. 159-163.
  • Sluijter, M.D., Ph.D., Pulsed Radiofrequency, May 17, 2005, Anesthesiology Dec. 2005, vol. 103, No. 6, 2005 American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., pp. 1313-1314.
  • Sluijter, M.D., Ph.D., Radiofrequency Part 1: The Lumbosacral Region, Chapter 1 Mechanisms of Chronic Pain and part of Chapter 2 Spinal Pain, 2001 FlivoPress SA, Meggen (LU), Switzerland, pp. 1-26.
  • Sluijter, M.D., Ph.D., Radiofrequency Part 2: Thoracic and Cervical Region, Headache and Facial Pain, various pages from, FlivoPress SA, Meggen (LU), Switzerland, 13 pages 2002.
  • Sluijter, M.D., Ph.D., The Role of Radiofrequency in Failed Back Surgery Patients, Current Review of Pain 2000, vol. 4, 2000 by Current Science Inc., pp. 49-53.
  • Smithwick, R.H. et al., Hypertension and associated cardiovascular disease: comparison of male and female mortality rates and their influence on selection of therapy, JAMA, 1956, 160:1023-1033.
  • Smithwick, R.H. et al., Splanchnicectomy for essential hypertension, Journal Am Med Assn, 1953;152:1501-1504.
  • Smithwick, R.H., Surgical treatment of hypertension, Am J Med 1948, 4:744-759.
  • Sobotka, Paul A., Treatment Strategies for Fluid Overload, CHF Patients, CHF Solutions. Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2005. 20 slides.
  • Solis-Herruzo, J.A. et al., Effects of lumbar sympathetic block on kidney function in cirrhotic patients with hepatorenal syndrome, Journal of Hepatology, 1987; 5: 167-173.
  • Souza, D.R.B. et al., Chronic experimental myocardial infarction produces antinatriuresis by a renal nerve-dependent mechanism, Oct. 14, 2003, Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 2004, vol. 37, pp. 285-293.
  • Standl, Thomas, M.D., et al., Patient-controlled epidural analgesia reduces analgesic requirements compared to continuous epidural infusion after major abdominal surgery, Aug. 29, 2002, Canada Journal of Anesthesia 2003, vol. 50 (3), pp. 258-264.
  • Steffen, W. et al., Catheter-delivered high intensity, low frequency ultrasound induces vasodilation in vivo, European Heart Journal. 1994. 15; pp. 369-376.
  • Steg, PG et al., Pulsed ultraviolet laser irradiation produces endothelium-independent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. 1989. pp. 189-197.
  • Stone, Gregg W., M.D. et al., Fenoldopam Mesylate for the Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy, JAMA Nov. 5, 2003, vol. 290, No. 17, 2003 American Medical Association, pp. 2284-2291.
  • Strojek, K. et al., Lowering of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients by a sympathicoplegic agent: novel approach to prevent progression of diabetic nephropathy? J Am Soc Nephrol. 2001;12:602-5.
  • Summary, Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, vol. 17, Issue 5, 1989, pp. 515-529.
  • Sung, Duk Hyun, M.D. et al., Phenol Block of Peripheral Nerve Conduction: Titrating for Optimum Effect, Jun. 27, 2000, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. vol. 82, May 2001, pp. 671-676.
  • Taka, Tomomi et al., Impaired Flow-Mediated Vasodilation in vivo and Reduced Shear-Induced Platelet Reactivity in vitro in Response to Nitric Oxide in Prothrombotic, Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, Pathophysiology of Haemostasis and Thrombosis. Dec. 23, 2002. pp. 184-189.
  • Taler, Sandra J. et al., Resistant Hypertension, Comparing Hemodynamic Management to Specialist Care, Mar. 12, 2002, Hypertension 2002, vol. 39, 2002 American Heart Association, Inc., pp. 982-988.
  • Tamborero, David et al., Incidence of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis in Patients Submitted to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Comparison of the Selective Segmental Ostial Ablation vs. the Circumferential Pulmonary Veins Ablation, Journal of Intervocational Cardiac Electrophysiology. 14; pp. 41-25. 2005.
  • Tay, Victoria KM, et al., Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided chemical lumbar sympathectomy: Simple, safe and effective, Oct. 31, 2001, Diagnostic Radiology, Australasian Radiology 2002, vol. 46, pp. 163-166.
  • Terashima, Mitsuyasu et al. Feasibility and Safety of a Novel CryoPlasty™ System. Poster. 1 page, Mar. 15, 2002.
  • Thatipelli et al., CT Angiography of Renal Artery Anatomy for Evaluating Embolic Protection Devices, Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Jul. 2007, pp. 842-846.
  • The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial, ALLHAT Research Group, JAMA, 2002, vol. 288, pp. 2981-2997.
  • Thomas, John R. and Oakley, E. Howard N. Chapter 15: Nonfreezing Cold Injury Medical Aspects of Harsh Environments, vol. 1. pp. 467-490, 2001.
  • Thompson, Gregory W., et al., Bradycardia Induced by Intravascular Versus Direct Stimulation of the Vagus Nerve, Aug. 24, 1997, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 1998, pp. 637-642.
  • Thrasher, Terry N., Unloading arterial baroreceptors causes neurogenic hypertension, Dec. 4, 2001, Am J. Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, vol. 282, 2002 the American Physiological Society, pp. R1044-R1053.
  • Tokuno, Hajime A. et al., Local anesthetic effects of cocaethylene and isopropylcocaine on rat peripheral nerves, Oct. 7, 2003, Brain Research 996, 2004, Elsevier B.V. 2003, pp. 159-167.
  • Trapani, Angelo J. et al., Neurohumoral interactions in conscious dehydrated rabbit, Am. J. Physiol. 254, 1988, the American Physiological Society 1988, pp. R338-R347.
  • Trock, David H. et al., The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee and Cervical Spine. Report of Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trials, Mar. 22, 1994, The Journal of Rheumatology 1994, vol. 21, pp. 1903-1911.
  • Troiano, Gregory C. et al., The Reduction in Electroporation Voltages by the Addition of a Surfactant to Planar Lipid Bilayers, May 12, 1998, Biophysical Journal, vol. 75, Aug. 1998, the Biophysical Society 1998, pp. 880-888.
  • Trumble, Dennis R. and James A. MaGovern, Comparison of Dog and Pig Models for Testing Substernal Cardiac Compression Devices, Nov. 2003, ASAIO Journal 2004, pp. 188-192.
  • Tsai, E., Intrathecal drug delivery for pain indications, technique, results, Pain Lecture presentation, Jun. 8, 2001, 31 pages.
  • Uematsu, Toshihiko, M.D., Ph.D., F.I.C.A. et al., Extrinsic Innervation of the Canine Superior Vena Cava, Pulmonary, Portal and Renal Veins, Angiology—Journal of Vascular Diseases, Aug. 1984, pp. 486-493.
  • United States Renal Data System, USRDS 2003 Annual Data Report: Atlas of End-Stage Renal Disease in the United States, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2003, 593 pages.
  • Upadhyay, Pramod, Electroporation of the skin to deliver antigen by using a piezo ceramic gas igniter, Jan. 27, 2001, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 217, 2001 Elsevier Science B.V., pp. 249-253.
  • Valente, John F. et al., Laparoscopic renal denervation for intractable ADPKD-related pain, Aug. 24, 2000, Nephrol Dial Transplant 2001, vol. 16, European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association, p. 160.
  • Van Antwerp, Bill and Poonam Gulati, Protein Delivery from Mechanical Devices Challenges and Opportunities, Medtronic presentation, 19 pages, Jul. 2003.
  • Velazquez, Eric J., An international perspective on heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction complicating myocardial infarction: the VALIANT registry, Aug. 5, 2004, European Heart Journal vol. 25, 2004 Elsevier, pp. 1911-1919.
  • Velez-Roa, Sonia, M.D. et al., Peripheral Sympathetic Control During Dobutamine Infusion: Effects of Aging and Heart Failure, Jul. 7, 2003, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 42, No. 9, 2003, American College of Cardiology Foundation 2003, pp. 1605-1610.
  • Villarreal, Daniel et al., Effects of renal denervation on postprandial sodium excretion in experimental heart failure, Oct. 29, 1993, Am J Physiol 266, 1994, pp. R1599-R1604.
  • Villarreal, Daniel et al., Neurohumoral modulators and sodium balance in experimental heart failure, Nov. 6, 1992, Am. J. Physiol, vol. 264, 1993, pp. H1187-H1193.
  • Vonend, O. et al., Moxonidine treatment of hypertensive patients with advanced renal failure. J Hypertens. 2003;21:1709-17.
  • Wagner, C.D. et al., Very low frequency oscillations in arterial blood pressure after autonomic blockade in conscious dogs, Feb. 5, 1997, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 1997, vol. 272, 1997 the American Physiological Society, pp. 2034-2039.
  • Wald, Jan D., Ph.D, et al., Cardiology Update: 2003, Sep. 11, 2003, AG Edwards 2003, 120 pages.
  • Wang, Xi et al., Alterations of adenylyl cyclase and G proteins in aortocaval shunt-induced heart failure, Jul. 2004, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol vol. 287, 2004 the American Physiological Society, pp. H118-H125.
  • Weaver, James C., Chapter 1 Electroporation Theory, Concepts and Mechanisms, Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 55, Plant Cell Electroporation and Electrofusion Protocols, Edited by J.A. Nickoloff, Humana Press Inc., pp. 3-28, 1995.
  • Weaver, James C., Electroporation: A General Phenomenon for Manipulating Cells and Tissues, Oct. 22, 1992, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, vol. 51, 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc., pp. 426-435.
  • Weiner, Richard L., M.D., Peripheral nerve neurostimulation, Neurosurg. Clin. N. Am. vol. 14, 2003, Elsevier, Inc. 2003, pp. 401-408.
  • Weisbord, Steven D., M.D. and Paul M. Palevsky, M.D., Radiocontrast-Induced Acute Renal Failure, Jul. 10, 2004, Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2005, vol. 20 (2), 2005 Sage Publications, pp. 63-75.
  • Whitelaw, G.P., Kinsey, D., Smithwick, R.H., Factors influencing the choice of treatment in essential hypertension: surgical, medical, or a combination of both, Am J Surg, 1964, 107:220-231.
  • Wilson, D.H. et al., The Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Energy on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Annals New York Academy of Sciences, Oct. 1974, pp. 575-585.
  • Wolinsky, Harvey, M.D. PhD and Swan N. Thung, M.D., Use of a Perforated Balloon Catheter to Deliver Concentrated Heparin Into the Wall of the Normal Canine Artery, Aug. 30, 1989, JACC 1990, vol. 15, 1990 by the American College of Cardiology, pp. 475-481.
  • Wyss, J. Michael et al., Neuronal control of the kidney: Contribution to hypertension, Apr. 8, 1991, Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 1992;70: 759-770.
  • Yamaguchi, Jun-ichi, M.D. et al., Prognostic Significance of Serum Creatinine Concentration for In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Who Underwent Successful Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the Heart Institute of Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction [HIJAMI] Registry), Feb. 24, 2004, The American Journal of Cardiology vol. 93, Jun. 15, 2004, 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc., pp. 1526-1528.
  • Ye, Richard D., M.D., Ph.D., Pharmacology of the Peripheral Nervous System, E-425 MSB, 6 pages, Jan. 2000.
  • Ye, S. et al., A limited renal injury may cause a permanent form of neurogenic hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 1998;11:723-8.
  • Ye, Shaohua et al., Renal Injury Caused by Intrarenal Injection of Pheno Increases Afferent and Efferent Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity, Mar. 12, 2002, American Journal of Hypertension, Aug. 2002, vol. 15, No. 8, 2002 the American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. Published by Elsevier Science Inc., pp. 717-724.
  • Yong-Quan, Dong et al., The therapeutic effect of pulsed electric field on experimental spinal cord injury, Beijing Army General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Beijing, 5 pages (full article in Chinese; abstract on last page) Mar. 30, 1992.
  • Young, James B., M.D., FACC, Management of Chronic Heart Failure: What Do Recent Clinical Trials Teach Us?, Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 5, Suppl. 1, 2004, MedReviews, LLC 2004, pp. S3-S9.
  • Yu, Wen-Chung et al. Acquired Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. vol. 12, No. 8. Aug. 2001. pp. 887-892.
  • Zanchetti, A. et al., Neural Control of the Kidney—Are There Reno-Renal Reflexes?, Clin. and Exper. Hyper. Theory and Practice, A6 (1&2), 1984, Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1984, pp. 275-286.
  • Zanchetti, A. et al., Practice Guidelines for Primary Care Physicians: 2003 ESH/ESC Hypertension Guidelines, Journal of Hypertension, vol. 21, No. 10, 2003, pp. 1779-1786.
  • Zanchetti, A.S., Neural regulation of renin release: Experimental evidence and clinical implications in arterial hypertension, Circulation, 1977, 56(5) 691-698.
  • Zimmermann, Ulrich, Electrical Breakdown, Electropermeabilization and Electrofusion, Rev. Physiol. Biochem. Pharmacol., vol. 105, Springer-Verlag 1986, pp. 175-256.
  • Zoccali, C. et al., Plasma norepinephrine predicts survival and incident cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal disease. Circulation. 2002;105:1354-9.
  • Zucker, Irving H. et al., The origin of sympathetic outflow in heart failure: the roles of angiotensin II and nitric oxide, Progress in Biophysics & Molecular Biology, vol. 84, 2004, Elsevier Ltd. 2003, pp. 217-232.
  • Zundert, Jan Van, M.D. FIPP and Alex Cahana, M.D. DAAPM, Pulsed Radiofrequency in Chronic Pain Management: Looking for the Best Use of Electrical Current, Pain Practice 2005, vol. 5, Issue 2, 2005 World Institute of Pain, pp. 74-76.
  • European Search Report dated May 3, 2012; Application No. 11192511.1; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dted May 3, 2012; European Patent Application No. 11192511.1; Applicant: Ardain, Inc.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dated May 3, 2012; European Patent Application No. 11192514.5; Applicant: Ardian, Inc.; 7 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Jan. 30, 2013; European Application No. 12180426.4; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Feb. 28, 2013; European Application No. 12180427.2; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 4 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Jan. 30, 2013; Application No. 12180428.0; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Jan. 30, 2013; Application No. 12180430.6; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Jan. 30, 2013; Application No. 12180431.4; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 6 pages.
  • European Search Report dated Feb. 22, 2013; Application No. 12180432.2; Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.; 6 pages.
  • Ahmed, Humera et al., Renal Sympathetic Denervation Using an Irrigated Radiofrequency Ablation Catheter for the Management of Drug-Resistant Hypertension, JACC Cardiovascular Interventions, vol. 5, No. 7, 2012, pp. 758-765.
  • Avitall et al., “The creation of linear contiguous lesions in the atria with an expandable loop catheter,” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 1999; 33; pp. 972-984.
  • Blessing, Erwin et al., Cardiac Ablation and Renal Denervation Systems Have Distinct Purposes and Different Technical Requirements, JACC Cardiovascular Interventions, vol. 6, No. 3, 2013.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov, Renal Denervation in Patients with uncontrolled Hypertension in Chinese (2011), www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01390831.
  • Excerpt of Operator's Manual of Boston Scientific's EPT-1000 XP Cardiac Ablation Controller & Accessories, Version of Apr. 2003, (6 pages).
  • Excerpt of Operator's Manual of Boston Scientific's Maestro 30000 Cardiac Ablation System, Version of Oct. 17, 2005 , (4 pages).
  • Kandarpa, Krishna et al., “Handbook of Interventional Radiologic Procedures”, Third Edition, pp. 194-210 (2002).
  • Mount Sinai School of Medicine clinical trial for Impact of Renal Sympathetic Denervation of Chronic Hypertenion, Mar. 2013, http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01628198.
  • Opposition to European Patent No. EP2092957, Granted Jan. 5, 2011, Date of Opposition Oct. 5, 2011, 26 pages.
  • Opposition to European Patent No. EP1802370, Granted Jan. 5, 2011, Date of Opposition Oct. 5, 2011, 20 pages.
  • Opposition to European Patent No. EP2037840, Granted Dec. 7, 2011, Date of Opposition Sep. 7, 2012, 25 pages.
  • Prochnau, Dirk et al., Catheter-based renal denervation for drug-resistant hypertension by using a standard electrophysiology catheter; Euro Intervention 2012, vol. 7, pp. 1077-1080.
  • Schneider, Peter A.., “Endovascular Skills—Guidewires, Catheters, Arteriography, Balloon Angioplasty, Stents”, pp. 70-71, 101 and 188-190 (1998).
  • ThermoCool Irrigated Catheter and Integrated Ablation System, Biosense Webster (2006).
  • Wittkampf et al., “Control of radiofrequency lesion size by power regulation,” Journal of the American Heart Associate, 1989, 80: pp. 962-968.
  • Zheng et al., “Comparison of the temperature profile and pathological effect at unipolar, bipolar and phased radiofrequency current configurations,” Journal of Interventional Cardian Electrophysiology, 2001, pp. 401-410.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,110, filed Aug. 29, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,209, filed Sep. 13, 2012, Levin et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,233, filed Sep. 13, 2012, Levin et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,243, filed Sep. 13, 2012, Levin et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,253, filed Sep. 13, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,255, filed Sep. 13, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,292, filed Sep. 14, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,327, filed Sep. 14, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,335, filed Sep. 14, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,336, filed Sep. 14, 2012, Levin et al.
  • U.S. Appl. No. 95/002,356, filed Sep. 14, 2012, Demarais et al.
  • Benito, F., et al. “Radiofrequency cateheter ablation of accessory pathways in infants.” Heart, 78:160-162 (1997).
  • Curtis, J.J., et al., “Surgical therapy for presistent hypertension after renal transplantation.” Trasnplantation, 31: 125-128.
  • Dubuc, M., et al., “Feasibility of cardiac cryoablation using a transvenous steerable electrode catheter.” J Interv Cardiac Electrophysiol, 2:285-292 (1998).
  • Gelfand, M., et al., “Treatment of renal failure and hypertension.” U.S. Appl. No. 60/442,970.
  • Hall, W. H., et al. “Combined embolization and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of a solid renal tumor.” Am. J. Roentgenol,174: 1592-1594 (2000).
  • Han, Y.-M, et al., “Renal artery ebolization with diluted hot contrast medium: An experimental study.” J Vasc Interv Radiol, 12: 862-868 (2001).
  • Hanson, J. M., et al. “The transplanted human kidney does not achieve functional reinnervation.” Clin. Sci, 87: 13-19 (1994).
  • Hendee, W. R. et al. “Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: The Challenge and Response.” American Medical Association White Paper (1988).
  • Kompanowska, E., et al., “Early Effects of renal denervation in the anaesthetised rat: Natriuresis and increased cortical blood flow.” J Physiol, 531. 2:527-534 (2001).
  • Lee, S.J., et al. “Ultrasonic energy in endoscopic surgery.” Yonsei Med J, 40:545-549 (1999).
  • Lustrgarten, D.L.,et al., “Cryothermal ablation: Mechanism of tissue injury and current experience in the treatment of tachyarrhythmias.” Progr Cardiovasc Dis, 41:481-498 (1999).
  • Medical-Dictionary.com, Definition of “Animal Model,” http://medical-dictionary.com (search “Animal Model”), 2005.
  • Medtronic, Inc., Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Jun. 28, 2011).
  • Oliverira, V., et al., “Renal denervation normalizes pressure and baroreceptor reflex in high renin hypertension in conscious rats.” Hypertension, 19:II-17-II-21 (1992).
  • Ong, K. L., et al. “Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension Among United States Adults 1999-2004.” Hypertension, 49: 69-75 (2007) (originally published online Dec. 11, 2006).
  • Peet, M., “Hypertension and its Surgical Treatment by bilateral supradiaphragmatic splanchnicectomy” Am J Surgery (1948) pp. 48-68.
  • Renal Denervation (RDN), Symplicity RDN System Common Q&A (2011), http://www.medtronic.com/rdn/mediakit/RDN%20FAQ.pdf.
  • Stella, A., et al., “Effects of reversible renal deneravation on haemodynamic and excretory functions on the ipsilateral and contralateral kidney in the cat.” Hypertension, 4:181-188 (1986).
  • Swartz, J.F., et al., “Radiofrequency endocardial cateheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular pathway atrial insertion sites.” Circulation, 87: 487-499 (1993).
  • Uchida, F., et al., “Effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation on parasympathetic denervation: A comparison of three different ablation sites.” PACE, 21:2517-2521 (1998).
  • Weinstock, M., et al., “Renal denervation prevents sodium rentention and hypertension in salt sensitive rabbits with genetic baroreflex impairment.” Clinical Science, 90:287-293 (1996).
  • Purerfellner, Helmut et al., Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Following Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation, Curr. Opin. Cardio. 20 :484-490, 2005.
  • Papademetriou, Vasilios, Renal Sympathetic Denervation for the Treatment of Difficult-to-Control or Resistant Hypertension, Int. Journal of Hypertension, 2011, 8 pages.
  • Oz, Mehmet, Pressure Relief, Time, Jan. 9, 2012, 2 pages. <www.time.come/time/printout/0,8816,2103278,00.html>.
  • Holmes et al., Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Complicating Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical Spectrum and Interventional Considerations, JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 2: 4, 2009, 10 pages.
  • Purerfellner, Helmut et al., Incidence, Management, and Outcome in Significant Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Complicating Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, Am. J. Cardiol , 93, Jun. 1, 2004, 4 pages.
  • Tsao, Hsuan-Ming, Evaluation of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiac Electrophysiology Review, 6, 2002, 4 pages.
  • Final Office Action; U.S. Appl. No. 12/827,700; Mailed on Feb. 5, 2013, 61 pages.
  • Golwyn, D. H., Jr., et al. “Percutaneous Transcatheter Renal Ablation with Absolute Ethanol for Uncontrolled Hypertension or Nephrotic Syndrome: Results in 11 Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.” JVIR, 8: 527-533 (1997).
  • Millard, F. C., et al, “Renal Embolization for ablation of function in renal failure and hypertension.” Postgraduate Medical Journal, 65, 729-734, (1989).
  • Schneider, Peter A., “Endovascular Skills—Guidewire and Catheter Skills for Endovascular Surgery,” Second Edition Revised and Expanded, 10 pages, (2003).
  • Wilcox, Josiah N., Scientific Basis Behind Renal Denervation for the Control of Hypertension, ICI 2012, Dec. 5-6, 38 pages, 2012.
  • European Search Report for European Application No. 13159257, Date Mailed: Oct. 17, 2013, 4 pages.
  • European Search Report for European Application No. 13159256, Date Mailed: Oct. 17, 2013, 3 pages.
  • European Search Report for European Application No. 13159259, Date Mailed: Oct. 17, 2013, 4 pages.
Patent History
Patent number: 8652133
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 12, 2013
Date of Patent: Feb 18, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20130304054
Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l. (Luxembourg)
Inventors: Denise Zarins (Saratoga, CA), Hanson Gifford, III (Woodside, CA), Mark Deem (Mountain View, CA), Nicolas Zadno (Fremont, CA), Benjamin J. Clark (Redwood City, CA), Andrew Wu (Mountain View, CA), Kenneth J. Michlitsch (Berwyn, PA)
Primary Examiner: Aaron Roane
Application Number: 13/941,331
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Applicators (606/41)
International Classification: A61B 18/12 (20060101);