Percutaneous methods and devices for carotid body ablation

1. A method of cryo-ablating a carotid septum and protecting tissue, comprising

positioning a cryo-ablation element within a carotid septum;

positioning a warming element distal to the cryo-ablation element;

activating the cryo-ablation element and ablating carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element by reducing the temperature of the carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element;

warming tissue proximate the warming element by activating the warming element to prevent the tissue proximate the warming element from being reduced as much as the carotid septum tissue adjacent the cryo-ablation element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises providing a cryo-ablation device that supports the cryo-ablation element and the warming element, the warming element disposed distal to the cryo-ablation element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein activating the cryo-ablation element comprises delivering a cryogen fluid through the cryo-ablation element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the carotid septum before the positioning steps.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the skin in the neck to create an access path to the carotid septum.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising advancing a cryo-ablation device into the patient via the access point, the cryo-ablation device comprising the cryo-ablation element and the warming element.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the cryo-ablation element within a carotid septum comprises positioning the cryo-ablation element adjacent a carotid body and between an external carotid artery and an internal carotid artery.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein positioning the warming element distal to the cryo-ablation element comprises positioning the warming element closer to a sympathetic nerve than the cryo-ablation element.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising imaging the carotid body before either activating step.