Devices and methods for pulmonary hypertension treatment

Abstract

The present invention in some embodiments thereof relates to a method for selectively modifying nerve activity without causing substantial damage to non-targeted tissue, comprising introducing a catheter device comprising one or more ultrasonic transceivers to the pulmonary artery lumen, receiving, using the one or more ultrasonic transceivers, echo signals reflected from the non-targeted tissue following emission of ultrasound energy by the one or more transceivers, analyzing the received echo signals to identify at least one of a type and location of the non-targeted tissue relative to the one or more transceivers, and emitting ultrasound energy from the one or more ultrasonic transceivers in accordance with the analysis, to modify nerve activity without substantially damaging the identified non-targeted tissue.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for selectively targeting nerve tissue, comprising:
 introducing a catheter comprising one or more ultrasonic transceivers to the pulmonary artery lumen;   selecting to damage only nerves that are not coated by myelin;   emitting ultrasound energy at a frequency, intensity and duration sufficient to damage only nerves that are not coated by myelin, by producing a predetermined temperature profile in the treated tissue, said temperature profile ranging between 47-57 degrees C.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising modifying at least one of said frequency, intensity and duration of said energy to produce a temperature profile ranging between 58-70 degrees C. in the treated tissue, to selectively damage both myelin coated nerves and non-coated nerves. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising assessing a bronchial reaction to said emitting as feedback to said targeting, and modifying at least one of said frequency, intensity and duration of said energy in accordance with said bronchial reaction. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising positioning said one or more ultrasonic transceivers away from a wall of said pulmonary artery lumen to allow blood to flow between said transceivers and said wall. 
     
     
         17 . An ultrasonic catheter for selectively targeting nerve tissue from a pulmonary artery lumen, comprising:
 a head configured at a distal end of the catheter, said head comprising one or more ultrasonic transceivers, said transceivers configured to emit non-focused ultrasound energy;   a controller configured to select one or more of frequency, intensity and duration of said non-focused ultrasound energy emitted by said transceivers to selectively damage only nerves that are not coated by myelin.   
     
     
         18 . The ultrasonic catheter according to  claim 17 , wherein said controller is configured to select one or more of said frequency, intensity and duration of said non-focused ultrasound energy emitted by said transceivers to selectively damage both myelin coated nerves and non-coated nerves. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An ultrasonic catheter device for modifying nerve activity from an air filled lumen, comprising:
 a head comprising one or more ultrasonic transceivers, said transceivers configured to emit energy having parameters suitable to modify nerve tissue in target tissue;   a balloon arrangement in which fluid is circulated, said balloon arrangement comprising at least an inner balloon, surrounding said transceivers, and an outer balloon, surrounding said inner balloon, wherein cold fluid is circulated in said inner balloon for cooling said one or more transceivers, and warm fluid is circulated in said outer balloon for enhancing a thermal heating effect of energy emitted by said transceivers, to effectively increase a depth of the produced ultrasonic field in said target tissue.   
     
     
         24 . The ultrasonic catheter device according to  claim 23 , wherein said cold fluid and said warm fluid are the same fluid, said cold fluid heated as a result of cooling said transceivers and circulated as said warm fluid to enhance the thermal heating effect of the emitted energy. 
     
     
         25 . The ultrasonic catheter device according to  claim 23 , wherein said balloon arrangement comprises two or more balloons which when inflated cover only portions of said head, and do not surround said head circumferentially. 
     
     
         26 . The ultrasonic catheter device according to  claim 25 , wherein emitting surfaces of said one or more transceivers are exposed in between said balloons. 
     
     
         27 . The ultrasonic catheter device according to  claim 24 , wherein said balloon arrangement is configured to push said one or more transceivers away from a wall of said lumen when inflated. 
     
     
         28 . The ultrasonic catheter device according to  claim 24 , wherein said air filled lumen is the trachea. 
     
     
         29 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An ultrasonic catheter for modifying nerve activity from within a blood vessel, comprising:
 a shaft comprising at least one curved portion;   a head configured at a distal end of said shaft, said head comprising one or more ultrasonic emitters, said emitters configured to emit energy suitable for modifying nerve activity;   wherein said curved portion of said shaft comprises a sigmoid-shape curvature which pushes said head away from one wall of said blood vessel and in proximity to an opposite wall of said blood vessel; and   wherein said sigmoid shaped shaft portion comprises a cross sectional diameter which is no more than 10% smaller than a cross sectional diameter of said blood vessel.   
     
     
         42 - 58 . (canceled)