Cryotherapeutic Renal Neuromodulation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pharmacological strategies for managing renal sympathetic tone in hypertension and heart failure have limited efficacy, compliance issues, and significant side effects, highlighting a need for alternative treatment approaches.
Innovation Solution
The development of cryotherapeutic systems and methods for renal neuromodulation, which involve cooling renal nerves to inhibit or block neural communication, providing a minimally invasive technique for reducing sympathetic tone and treating associated conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmacological strategies are used to manage renal sympathetic tone, then renal sympathetic activity can be modulated, but side effects and compliance issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological (chemical) intervention with a mechanical/physical intervention - specifically, using cryotherapeutic cooling to modulate renal sympathetic nerves. Instead of administering drugs that chemically interact with the nervous system, the invention uses controlled cooling to directly affect nerve conduction and sympathetic tone, thereby eliminating pharmacological side effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of temperature to achieve renal neuromodulation. By lowering the temperature of the renal nerve tissue through cryotherapeutic cooling, the patent alters the physiological state of the nerves to reduce sympathetic outflow. This parameter change (temperature) provides a controllable and reversible method to modulate renal sympathetic activity without introducing foreign chemicals into the system
2Reliability
If pharmacological strategies are used to manage renal sympathetic tone, then renal sympathetic activity can be modulated, but treatment compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ongoing pharmacological management (which requires patient adherence to medication regimens) with a single or limited-duration interventional procedure. The cryotherapeutic renal neuromodulation procedure, once performed, provides sustained therapeutic effect without requiring daily patient action, thereby dramatically improving compliance while maintaining efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs the therapeutic action in advance through a one-time or limited-duration procedure that establishes long-lasting renal neuromodulation. The cryotherapeutic intervention is applied upfront to create durable changes in renal sympathetic tone, eliminating the need for continuous patient participation in treatment, thus resolving the compliance issue
3Reliability
If cryotherapeutic cooling is applied to renal nerves, then sympathetic tone is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cryotherapeutic system into separate functional modules: a cooling assembly with cryogen reservoir, a delivery catheter system, and a control system. The cooling assembly can be detached and replaced between procedures, allowing the complex cryogenic components to be segmented from the permanent implantable neurostimulator, thereby managing system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling assembly as an intermediary component that temporarily delivers cryotherapeutic cooling to the renal nerves during a procedure, then is removed or replaced. This intermediary approach allows the complex cooling function to be applied only when needed without permanently complicating the implanted system, as the cooling assembly serves as a temporary mediator rather than a permanent component
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Cryotherapeutic systems effectively modulate renal sympathetic activity, offering a promising alternative to pharmacological treatments by reducing hypertension, heart failure symptoms, and other conditions associated with excessive sympathetic tone, with potential benefits for various organs and structures innervated by sympathetic nerves.
Implementation Method 1
cooling renal nerves to inhibit or block neural communication
Implementation Method 2
CryoCooling Assembly configured to cool the CryoApplicator
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A
AI summary
Cryotherapeutic systems and cryotherapeutic-system components configured for renal neuromodulation are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include a console having a cartridge housing, a cartridge connector adjacent to the cartridge housing, and a supply passage fluidly connected to the cartridge connector. The console can further include a supply valve along the supply passage and a control assembly including a supply-valve actuator and a user interface. The supply-valve actuator can be operably connected to the supply valve, and the control assembly can be configured to signal the supply-valve actuator to open the supply valve in response to a signal from the user interface.