Disclosed are methods of obtaining zero vergence ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy with ultrasound waves that do not converge and do not diverge. The method includes coupling a sonodynamic therapy device with an array of flat piezoelectric transducers to a skin surface. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce a zero vergence ultrasound wave to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

An apparatus for vascular denervation, comprising a catheter configured for delivery into a vessel of a patient. A balloon is mounted on a distal tip of the catheter, the balloon being configured to be inflatable and further configured so that, upon inflation, the balloon adopts a shape that includes a first edge and a second edge that wind around each other in a double helix, the first edge and the second edge being separated from each other by a first crease and a second crease that also wind around each other in a double helix. A first electrode is attached to the balloon and is located to extend along the first edge.

Methods and apparatus are provided for applying an fragment of a neurotoxin such as the active light chain (LC) of the botulinum toxin (BoNT), such as one of the serotype A, B, C, D, E, F or G botulinum toxins, via permeabilization of targeted cell membranes to enable translocation of the botulinum neurotoxin light chain (BoNT-LC) molecule across the targeted cell membrane to the cell cytosol where a therapeutic response is produced in a mammalian system. The methods and apparatus include use of catheter based delivery systems, non-invasive delivery systems, and transdermal delivery systems.

A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.

Described herein are acoustic-based tissue treatment systems, apparatuses, and methods for use therewith. Certain such apparatuses comprise a catheter sized and shaped for delivery through a radial artery including a catheter shaft having distal and proximal ends, a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter shaft between the distal and proximal ends thereof, and an ultrasound transducer distally positioned relative to the distal end of the catheter shaft. A balloon may surround the ultrasound transducer and at least one of the plurality of lumens may be configured to provide a cooling fluid to the balloon at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to protect non-target tissue in the blood vessel wall from thermal injury. In certain embodiments, the apparatus also includes a single electrical cable extending through one of the lumens and including first conductor(s) coupled to the first electrode of the ultrasound transducer, and second conductor(s) coupled to the second electrode of the ultrasound transducer. The single electrical cable may be configured to deliver sufficient electrical energy during sonication to the transducer such that the transducer thermally induces modulation of neural fibers surrounding the blood vessel sufficient to improve a measurable physiological parameter corresponding to a diagnosed condition of the patient.

System and method for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery are disclosed. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The method includes at least the steps to evaluate a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and to determine the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (none, sympathetic or parasympathetic) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using this method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.

Apparatus and methods for determining positioning of a energy delivery element include deploying a energy delivery element at a treatment site proximal to a vessel wall; using a multi-region pressure sensing apparatus to sense pressures applied in a plurality of directions about the energy delivery element; and determining an orientation of the energy delivery element based on the pressures measured in the plurality of directions about the energy delivery element.

Disclosed herein are ultrasound transducers that are selectively insulated to thereby enable the transducers to be exposed to an electrically conductive fluid without causing a short circuit between electrodes of the transducers. Such a transducer includes a piezoelectric transducer body having a first surface and a second surface that are spaced apart from one another and do not intersect with one another. The ultrasound transducer also includes a first electrode disposed on the first surface, a second electrode disposed on the second surface, and an electrical insulator covering only one of first and second electrodes and configured to inhibit electrical conduction between the first electrode and the second electrode when the ultrasound transducer is placed within an electrically conductive fluid. Also disclosed are apparatuses and systems that include such a transducer. Related methods are also disclosed herein.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for achieving thermally-induced renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.

A method and apparatus for treatment of pulmonary conditions, including a device having an end effector sized and shaped to contact a nerve component on the exterior of a bronchial segment and apply energy to that nerve component.