SYSTEMS FOR EXTERNALLY DELIVERED ENERGY TO MODULATE NEURAL STRUCTURES
In some examples, nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some examples, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some examples, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents or the agents are enhanced by the energy sources.
1 - 148 . (canceled)
149 . A treatment system, comprising:
a therapeutic ultrasonic energy source comprising a transducer; and
a processor coupled to the transducer, wherein the processor is configured to control the transducer based on information from an imaging device to apply ultrasonic energy to a nerve region containing a blood vessel;
wherein the processor is configured to operate the transducer to treat tissue in the nerve region on at least two sides of the blood vessel so that the tissue on the at least two sides of the blood vessel receives more therapeutic effect than the blood vessel.
150 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising a module to track motion of the blood vessel.
151 . The system of claim 149 , wherein the tissue in the nerve region on the at least two sides of the blood vessel comprise nerves, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the transducer to create a zone of heat surrounding the blood vessel to create an annular region around the blood vessel to modulate the nerves surrounding the blood vessel.
152 . The system of claim 149 , wherein the transducer is configured to apply power to the nerve region, the power having a value that is anywhere from 100 W/cm 2 to 2500 W/cm 2 .
153 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising a patient interface configured to position the therapeutic ultrasonic energy source so that regions of bone are avoided by the ultrasonic energy from the transducer.
154 . The system of claim 149 , wherein the nerve region is an autonomic nerve region, and the transducer is configured to apply the ultrasonic energy at an energy level to create a reduction in a norepinephrine output of the autonomic nerve region.
155 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising a motion tracking module to track a movement of the blood vessel.
156 . The system of claim 155 , wherein the motion tracking module is configured to track speckles.
157 . The system of claim 155 , wherein the motion tracking module is configured to determine a three dimensional coordinate of the blood vessel.
158 . The system of claim 155 , wherein the motion tracking module is configured to track a doppler ultrasound signal from the blood vessel.
159 . The system of claim 149 , wherein the processor is configured to operate the transducer so that the transducer applies the ultrasonic energy simultaneously to the tissue on the at least two sides of the blood vessel.
160 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising the imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to visualize the blood vessel in the nerve region.
161 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising the imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to detect a presence of the blood vessel.
162 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising the imaging device, wherein the imaging device comprises an MRI machine, an ultrasound device, a fluoroscopy imaging device, or a CT scan.
163 . The system of claim 149 , further comprising the imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to detect a catheter.
164 . The system of claim 163 , wherein the imaging device is configured to detect the catheter when the catheter is in a renal artery, a renal vein, or a vena cava.
165 . The system of claim 163 , wherein the imaging device is configured to deliver ultrasound pulses from outside a patient to determine a three dimensional coordinate of the catheter.
166 . A treatment method, comprising:
placing a therapeutic ultrasonic energy source comprising a transducer outside a patient;
using the transducer to apply ultrasonic energy to a nerve region containing a blood vessel;
wherein the act of using the transducer comprises operating the transducer to treat tissue in the nerve region on at least two sides of the blood vessel so that the tissue on the at least two sides of the blood vessel receives more therapeutic effect than the blood vessel.
167 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising tracking a motion of the blood vessel.
168 . The method of claim 166 , wherein the tissue in the nerve region on the at least two sides of the blood vessel comprise nerves, and wherein the transducer is operated to create a zone of heat surrounding the blood vessel to create an annular region around the blood vessel to substantially inhibit the nerves surrounding the blood vessel.
169 . The method of claim 166 , wherein the transducer applies power to the nerve region, the power having a value that is anywhere from 100 W/cm 2 to 2500 W/cm 2 .
170 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising positioning the transducer relative to the patient so that regions of bone are avoided by the ultrasonic energy from the transducer.
171 . The method of claim 166 , wherein the nerve region is an autonomic nerve region, and the transducer applies the ultrasonic energy at an energy level to create a reduction in a norepinephrine output of the autonomic nerve region.
172 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising tracking speckles at the nerve region.
173 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising determining a three dimensional coordinate of the blood vessel.
174 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising tracking a doppler ultrasound signal from the blood vessel.
175 . The method of claim 166 , wherein the transducer applies the ultrasonic energy simultaneously to the tissue on the at least two sides of the blood vessel.
176 . The method of claim 166 , further comprising visualizing the blood vessel in the nerve region using an imaging device.