Energetic modulation of nerves
A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.
1. A method to apply a nerve inhibiting energy to one or more nerves surrounding a blood vessel, comprising:
obtaining a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting energy towards a plurality of locations around a blood vessel;
determining a coordinate of a reference location;
using the coordinate of the reference location to compute a first coordinate for one of the plurality of locations that has a probability of including the one or more nerves;
applying the nerve inhibiting energy using an energy delivery device towards the first coordinate for the one of the plurality of locations;
computing a second coordinate for another one of the plurality of locations that has a probability of including the one or more nerves; and
applying the nerve inhibiting energy using the energy delivery device towards the second coordinate for the other one of the plurality of locations.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve inhibiting cloud energy comprises light.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve inhibiting energy is in a form of gas.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve inhibiting energy comprises a heat.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device comprises a transcutaneous energy source, and wherein the nerve inhibiting energy is applied to the first and second coordinates using the transcutaneous energy source.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device comprises a transcutaneous energy source configured to deliver a focused ultrasound, and wherein the nerve inhibiting energy is applied towards the first and second coordinates using the transcutaneous energy source.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve inhibiting energy is applied towards the first and second coordinates by using the energy delivery device to provide ionizing radiation.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining an image of the blood vessel using an imaging device, wherein the treatment plan is created using the image.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the nerve inhibiting energy is applied by delivering focused ultrasound, and the imaging device comprises an MRI device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy is delivered to the first and second coordinates at a carotid body or a carotid sinus.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the energy delivery device inside a patient.
12. A method to treat one or more nerves, comprising:
placing an energy delivery device at an operative position relative to a target site that includes a one or more nerves, the target site located inside a patient;
determining a coordinate of a reference location;
using the coordinate of the reference location to compute a first coordinate for one of a plurality of locations in the target site that has a probability of including the one or more nerves;
applying energy using the energy delivery device towards the first coordinate for the one of the plurality of locations;
computing a second coordinate for another one of the plurality of locations that has a probability of including the one or more nerves; and
applying energy using the energy delivery device towards the second coordinate for the other one of the plurality of locations.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy delivery device is used to deliver light energy as the energy.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy delivery device is used to deliver ultrasound energy as the energy.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy delivery device is used to deliver focused ultrasound energy as the energy.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy delivery device is configured to provide ionizing radiation.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising obtaining an image of a blood vessel that is next to the one or more nerves using an imaging device.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the imaging device comprises an MRI device.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy is applied towards the first coordinate at to a carotid body or a carotid sinus.
20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operative position is located inside the patient.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the operative position is external to the patient.