UCI Health has become the first U.S. site to test the HyperQure™ extravascular renal denervation system, a groundbreaking device designed to treat resistant hypertension which is a condition affecting over 10 million Americans who cannot control their blood pressure with medication alone.
Performed by Pengbo Jiang, MD, the minimally invasive, robot-assisted procedure uses radiofrequency energy to disable overactive nerves surrounding the renal arteries without damaging the blood vessels. The device, developed by South Korea’s DeepQure, was granted FDA investigational approval in 2024 and has shown promising results in South Korea, with patients experiencing 30–40 mmHg drops in systolic blood pressure at six months.
The three-year feasibility study is open to patients aged 22–80 with resistant hypertension. Co-investigator Ekamol Tantisattamo, MD is helping recruit participants at high risk for cardiovascular and kidney disease. Unlike traditional intravascular approaches, HyperQure targets nerves from outside the artery, offering greater precision and safety.
If successful, the treatment could offer long-term blood pressure control and reduce reliance on medications, improving quality of life for millions.