Renal denervation using focused infrared fiber lasers: a potential treatment for hypertension

Renal denervation has recently become of great interest as a potential treatment for resistant hypertension. Denervation techniques using radio frequency (RF) or ultrasound energy sources have already been explored in literature. In this study, we investigate the use of lasers as a potential energy source for renal denervation. In vitro studies are performed in porcine/ovine renal arteries with focused laser beams at 980 nm, 1210 nm, and 1700 nm to study the ability to damage renal nerves without causing injury to non-target tissue structures like the endothelium. Then, a 980 nm laser catheter prototype is built and used to demonstrate in vivo renal denervation in ovine renal arteries.

This study utilizes fiber coupled infrared lasers at 980 nm, 1210 nm, and 1700 nm. In vitro laser denervation studies at 980 nm are performed in both porcine and ovine renal arteries to study the ability of focused laser beams to damage renal nerves without injuring the endothelium. In vitro studies using lasers close to the lipid absorption lines at 1210 nm and 1700 nm are also performed in porcine renal arteries to study the possibility of selectively damaging the renal nerves by targeting the lipid myelin sheaths surrounding the nerves. Then, a laser catheter prototype is designed and built for in vivo renal denervation in ovine renal arteries using the 980 nm laser (powers ranging from 2 to 4 W, 5 seconds per exposure). Histochemical evaluations of the frozen sections are performed using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Histochemical analysis of in vitro laser treatments at 980 nm in porcine and ovine renal arteries show clear evidence of laser-induced renal nerve damage without injury to the endothelium and part of the media. No evidence of selective nerve damage is observed using the 1210 nm and 1700 nm lasers with the current treatment parameters. Histochemical analysis of in vivo laser treatments in ovine renal arteries using a focused 980 nm laser show clear evidence of renal nerve damage with depths of damage extending > 1.5 mm from the artery wall. Sections with laser-induced damage to the media/adventitia at depths of > 1 mm without injury to the endothelium are also observed.

We demonstrate the use of focused lasers as an attractive energy source for causing renal nerve damage without injury to the artery wall and thus, may have potential therapeutic applications for conditions such as resistant hypertension, where renal denervation has been shown to be a promising form of treatment.