Novare Surgical Systems, Inc.

Verve Medical, Inc.

Terrence J Buelna

Thomas J Fogarty

Adam C Gold

Thomas A Howell

Todd A Pelman

David B Willis

Phillip Pesta

David J Danitz

Thomas H Howell

David E Willis

David E Hegeman

Russell J Anderson

John Orlando

Rahul Rao

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for treating kidney disease in a human patient are disclosed. A method includes advancing a collapsible array of RF electrodes through a urinary tract of the patient in collapsed form and into a position in or near a renal pelvis. The effector is deployed to an expanded form to engage at least a portion of an interior wall of the renal pelvis. RF energy delivered through the array of electrodes target afferent nerves proximate the interior wall of the renal pelvis to inhibit or destroy their function. eGFR of the patient can be raised after treatment according to the method.

Treatment of kidney disease using renal nerve denervation via the renal pelvis

Apparatus, systems, and methods provide access to the renal pelvis of a kidney to treat renal nerves embedded in tissue surrounding the renal pelvis. Access to the renal pelvis may be via the urinary tract or via minimally invasive incisions through the abdomen and kidney tissue. Treatment is effected by exchanging energy, typically delivering heat or extracting heat through a wall of the renal pelvis, or by delivering active substances to ablate a thin layer of tissue lining at least a portion of the renal pelvis to disrupt renal nerves within the tissue lining of the renal pelvis.

Methods and systems for ablation of the renal pelvis

Apparatus, systems, and methods for treating PKD by providing access to a patient's renal pelvis of a kidney to treat renal nerves embedded in tissue surrounding the renal pelvis. Access to the renal pelvis may be via the urinary tract or via minimally invasive incisions through the abdomen and kidney tissue. Treatment is effected by exchanging energy, typically delivering heat or extracting heat through a wall of the renal pelvis, or by delivering active substances to ablate a thin layer of tissue lining at least a portion of the renal pelvis to disrupt renal nerves within the tissue lining of the renal pelvis.

Methods and devices for treating polycystic kidney disease and its symptoms

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for treatment of nerves present in a wall of a human renal pelvis are described. One system uses a sheath to access a position in or near the renal pelvis via the urinary tract. An effector inserted through the sheath has an uncooled distal region formed with a superelastic wire that supports at least four non-insulated, preferably spherical electrodes distributed along the distal region. The distal region expands within the renal pelvis, and vacuum applied through the sheath at least partially evacuates the renal pelvis to draw opposing walls of the renal pelvis inwards and compress the distal region somewhat from its expanded form, placing the electrodes in intimate contact with different points along the renal pelvic wall. Energy is applied to the electrodes to create discrete lesions at the points of contact of the electrodes.

Treatment of kidney disease by renal pelvis ablation

A target peripheral nerve is treated by providing a real-time fluorescent image of a tissue region where the target peripheral nerve has an enhanced appearance in the fluorescent image. A treatment element is advanced from an adjacent body lumen or cavity through the tissue region or externally aimed toward the peripheral nerve while viewing the fluorescent image, and the peripheral nerve is treated using the treatment element.

Renal denervation using nerve fluorescing dye

Apparatus, systems, and methods provide access to the renal pelvis of a kidney to treat renal nerves embedded in tissue surrounding the renal pelvis. Access to the renal pelvis may be via the urinary tract or via minimally invasive incisions through the abdomen and kidney tissue. Treatment is effected by exchanging energy, typically delivering heat or extracting heat through a wall of the renal pelvis, or by delivering active substances.

Renal nerve denervation via the renal pelvis

An anastomosis occlusion device having a low-profile shaft assembly configured for insertion into the lumen of a vessel. The device includes an expandable region at the shaft assembly distal end with a sealing membrane that spans the expandable region, and a corresponding clamping member moveable toward the expandable region. Once inserted into the vessel lumen the expandable region is deployed from a first low-profile position into a second expanded position, and positioned at the target site of the anastomosis. Movement of the distal end of the clamping member, which remains located outside the vessel, against the expanded region creates a seal at the target site.

Anastomosis occlusion device

An anastomosis occlusion device having a low-profile shaft assembly configured for insertion into the lumen of a vessel and a distal perfusion system adapted to be connected to the shaft assembly. The device includes an expandable region at the shaft assembly distal end with a sealing membrane that spans the expandable region, and a corresponding clamping member moveable toward the expandable region. Once inserted into the vessel lumen the expandable region is deployed from a first low-profile position into a second expanded position, and positioned at the target site of the anastomosis. Movement of the distal end of the clamping member, which remains located outside the vessel, against the expanded region creates a seal at the target site allowing a blood-free, graft site.

A replaceable pad or insert for attachment to the jaw of a jaw-type occlusion device. The insert includes an elastomeric cushion with a deflecting element embedded in the cushion, providing for improved gripping of a clamped vessel while minimizing trauma to the vessel.

Surgical clamp pads with deflecting elements

A replaceable pad or insert for attachment to the jaw of a jaw-type occlusion device. The insert includes a compliant cushion and a flexible non-compliant surface overlay secured to the cushion surface. The overlay can be metal or plastic and can further include notches along the overlay sides to increase flexibility of the overlay.

Surgical clamp pads having surface overlay

A surgical clamp having an elongate cavity or channel to receive a replaceable pad. The pad is formed with a flexible attachment member engageable in the elongate cavity or channel of the jaw. The pad can include a tab, draw cord, pull string or pull strap to draw the pad into place on the jaw.

Surgical clamp having replaceable pad

A clamp has a handle assembly, a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is coupled to the gripping assembly. The flexible shaft also defines a bore that retains a cable which is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and to the gripping assembly. The shaft assembly also includes a retractable generally rigid covering which can be oriented in a first position where the covering exposes a portion of the flexible shaft, and in a second position where the covering completely covers the flexible shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Terrence J Buelna