Apparatuses and methods for injuring nerve tissue
Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering energy to nerve tissue in a target region such that at least a portion of the nerve tissue is replaced by scar tissue or otherwise altered to inhibit reinnervation in the target region.
1 . A method of treating a subject, comprising:
positioning an energy delivery device in a passageway of a vessel in the subject such that
a first energy emitting assembly of the energy delivery device is placed along a first outer side of a cartilaginous ring of the vessel, and
a second energy emitting assembly of the energy delivery device is placed along a second outer side of the cartilaginous ring of the vessel; and
delivering energy from the energy delivery device to nerve tissue in a target region along the vessel such that at least a portion of the nerve tissue is replaced by scar tissue which inhibits reinnervation in the target region.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising inflating at least one of the first and second energy emitting assemblies against the vessel.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies are respectively inflated with differing first and second fluids.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling first and second temperatures respectively of the first and second energy emitting assemblies.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first temperature differs from the second temperature.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising circulating fluid through the first and second energy emitting assemblies.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies respectively deliver differing first and second amounts of energy to the target region.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the energy delivery device based on a width of the cartilaginous ring.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising
inspecting the vessel with a delivery apparatus; and
inserting the energy delivery device through the delivery apparatus.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second energy emitting assemblies has multiple circumferentially spaced electrodes.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies deliver energy simultaneously in a monopolar mode.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies deliver energy sequentially in a monopolar mode.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing an external electrode on a skin of the subject, wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies deliver energy in a monopolar mode.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies delivery energy in a bipolar mode.
15 . A method to strategically damage a target region of nerve tissue along a vessel, comprising:
locating the target region with a delivery apparatus;
inserting an ablation assembly through the delivery apparatus to position a first portion of an energy emitting assembly of the ablation assembly along a first outer side of a cartilaginous ring of the vessel, and a second portion of the energy emitting assembly of the ablation assembly along a second outer side of the cartilaginous ring of the vessel; and
delivering energy from the energy emitting assembly into the target region.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second portions of the energy emitting assembly operate independently.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second portions of the energy emitting assembly comprise a first energy emitting assembly and a second energy emitting assembly, respectively, wherein the method further comprises
inflating the first energy emitting assembly with a first fluid at a first temperature; and
inflating the second energy emitting assembly with a second fluid at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature differs from the second temperature.
18 . A method to ablate a target region of tissue along a vessel, comprising:
positioning an ablation assembly within the vessel to place first and second energy emitting assemblies respectively along first and second outer sides of a cartilaginous ring of the vessel proximate to the target region; and
energizing the first and second energy emitting assemblies.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first and second energy emitting assemblies operate independently.