Catheter apparatuses for modulation of nerves in communication with pulmonary system and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for the selective positioning of an intravascular neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The therapeutic assembly can include one or more energy delivery elements configured to deliver therapeutic energy to nerves proximate a vessel wall.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A magnetically-deformable catheter system, comprising:
 a magnetic field generator configured to generate and deliver a magnetic field;   a catheter including:   an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the elongated shaft is configured for intravascular delivery to a vessel of a patient; and   a magnetically actuatable portion coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the magnetically actuatable portion deforms to a desired shaft configuration when the magnetic field generator generates the magnetic field.   
     
     
         20 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the catheter includes:
 an energy delivery element positioned along the elongated shaft and configured to modulate nerves within the vessel of the patient.   
     
     
         21 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the catheter avoids total occlusion of the vessel and allows blood to flow through portions of the vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic field generator is a magnetic resonance imaging system. 
     
     
         23 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to deliver the magnetic field to the magnetically actuatable portion of the elongated shaft to deform the magnetically actuatable portion. 
     
     
         24 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to be positioned external to the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the energy delivery element is positioned at the distal portion of the elongated shaft and is configured to delivery radio frequency (RF) energy sufficient to ablate nerves within the vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the vessel of the patient is a pulmonary vessel. 
     
     
         27 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetically actuatable portion includes a plurality of magnetically actuatable portions. 
     
     
         28 . A catheter apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the elongated shaft is configured for intravascular delivery to a vessel of a patient; and   a magnetically actuatable portion coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the magnetically actuatable portion deforms to a desired shaft configuration when a magnetic field generator generates the magnetic field.   
     
     
         29 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 an energy delivery element positioned along the elongated shaft and configured to modulate nerves within the vessel of the patient.   
     
     
         30 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the catheter apparatus avoids total occlusion of the vessel and allows blood to flow through portions of the vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to deliver the magnetic field to the magnetically actuatable portion of the elongated shaft to deform the magnetically actuatable portion. 
     
     
         32 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to be positioned external to the patient. 
     
     
         33 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the energy delivery element is positioned at the distal portion of the elongated shaft and is configured to delivery radio frequency (RF) energy sufficient to ablate nerves within the vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         34 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the vessel of the patient is a pulmonary vessel. 
     
     
         35 . The catheter apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the magnetically actuatable portion includes a plurality of magnetically actuatable portions. 
     
     
         36 . A magnetically-deformable catheter system, comprising:
 a magnetic field generator configured to generate and deliver a magnetic field and positioned external to a patient;   a catheter including:   an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the elongated shaft is configured for intravascular delivery to a vessel of the patient; and   a magnetically actuatable portion coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the magnetically actuatable portion deforms to a desired shaft configuration when the magnetic field generator generates the magnetic field.   
     
     
         37 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 36 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to deliver the magnetic field to the magnetically actuatable portion of the elongated shaft to deform the magnetically actuatable portion. 
     
     
         38 . The magnetically-deformable catheter system of  claim 36 , wherein the catheter includes:
 an energy delivery element that is positioned at the distal portion of the elongated shaft and is configured to delivery radio frequency (RF) energy sufficient to ablate nerves within the vessel of the patient.