Ultrasound catheter to treat hypertension
21 March 2023
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Université de Paris, France, have tested an ultrasound denervation catheter in its potential to treat hypertension. The technology is called the Paradise ultrasound denervation device and it has been developed by ReCor Medical, a medtech company with offices in California and the UK.
The concept is based on the phenomenon whereby overactive neural activity in the kidney can lead to increases in sodium and water retention, underlying hypertension. The device is a catheter that can be advanced through the vasculature until it reaches the kidneys and then activated to produce ultrasonic disruption of nerve activity. In a recent clinical trial, the device was shown to reduce daytime ambulatory blood pressure by an average of 8.5 points and was largely well tolerated.
Hypertension is a common occurrence as many people age, but it can also strike in middle age. Lifestyle changes can help many patients, but in some cases this is not enough. Leaving high blood pressure uncontrolled can lead to a variety of adverse events. This has prompted this latest technology, renal ultrasound, as an alternative therapy.
The kidneys can play a key role in hypertension, with neural activity in this area leading to increased water retention. To date, there are no available treatments that target these nerves directly. The ultrasound catheter aims to achieve this by blasting the nerves with ultrasound, disrupting and calming their activity and reducing water retention.
The clinical trial included over 500 middle aged patients with hypertension. This was a mixed group of patients, with differing levels of hypertension severity and different medications. “The result was almost identical across the different study groups, which definitively shows that the device can lower blood pressure in a broad range of patients,” said Kirtane. “Once the device is available, we envision recommending it to patients who have tried other therapies first. The hope is that by controlling blood pressure, we might be able to prevent kidney damage and other effects of uncontrolled blood pressure,”
Is your Medical Devices organisation researching or developing something new and are you in need of qualifies professionals? Let our experts help you in finding the ideal match so that you have more time on your hands. Learn more about how we can help you here.
Also published on Medgadget.com
Want to stay informed about current Life Science and recruitment news on a regular base? Then register here for free.