Helical Multi-Electrode Catheter for Renal Neuromodulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pharmacologic strategies for managing excessive renal sympathetic nerve activity, which contributes to hypertension and renal disease, have limited efficacy, compliance issues, and significant side effects, highlighting the need for alternative approaches to reduce sympathetic tone.

Innovation Solution

The development of multi-electrode RF ablation catheter assemblies for intravascular renal neuromodulation, which deliver electrical or thermal energy to the renal arteries to incapacitate renal nerves, thereby reducing sympathetic activity through thermal ablation or non-ablative thermal alteration, using a catheter with a helical shape that allows blood flow and minimizes occlusion and overheating risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pharmacologic strategies are used to manage excessive renal sympathetic nerve activity, then sympathetic tone can be reduced, but efficacy is limited and significant side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveefficacyVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pharmacologic (chemical) intervention with a physical/energy-based system. RF ablation catheters deliver electromagnetic energy to create thermal lesions in the renal artery, substituting chemical drug action with physical energy delivery to achieve sympathetic denervation without pharmacologic side effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an energy field (RF electromagnetic field) as an intermediary to achieve therapeutic effect. The RF energy serves as a mediator that converts to thermal energy in the tissue, creating controlled lesions that reduce sympathetic activity without direct chemical interaction with the nervous system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If thermal ablation is used to reduce renal sympathetic activity, then deeper lesions can be created, but risk of overheating and complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion depthVSAvoidoverheating risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic or pulsed RF energy delivery rather than continuous heating. This allows thermal energy to be delivered in controlled intervals, enabling deeper lesion formation while permitting heat dissipation between pulses to prevent excessive temperature rise and tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates temperature monitoring and control systems that provide feedback during RF ablation. Temperature sensors detect thermal conditions in real-time, and the system adjusts energy delivery accordingly to maintain safe temperature thresholds while achieving desired lesion depths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a helical catheter shape is used to allow blood flow, then occlusion risk is minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveocclusion riskVSAvoidcatheter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a helical (curved/spiral) catheter configuration instead of a straight rigid structure. This curvature allows the catheter to conform to the renal artery anatomy and permits blood flow to pass through the center of the helix, reducing thrombosis and occlusion risks while maintaining structural integrity for energy delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This method effectively reduces renal sympathetic nerve activity, potentially treating hypertension, heart failure, and renal disease by creating deeper lesions with reduced risk of complications, offering a minimally invasive alternative to pharmacologic interventions.

Implementation Method 1

multi-electrode radio frequency (RF) ablation catheter assemblies for intravascular renal neuromodulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

deliver electrical or thermal energy to the renal arteries to incapacitate renal nerves, thereby reducing sympathetic activity through thermal ablation or non-ablative thermal alteration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal ablation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP4079245A1Multi-electrode catheter assemblies for renal neuromodulation and associated systems

Publication Date: 2022.10.26 MEDTRONIC IRELAND MFG UNLIMITED CO

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AI summary

Catheter apparatuses and systems for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to a treatment device having a multi-electrode array configured to be delivered to a renal blood vessel. The array is selectively transformable between a delivery or low-profile state (e.g., a generally straight shape) and a deployed state (e.g., a radially expanded, generally spiral/helical shape). The multi-electrode array is sized and shaped so that the electrodes or energy delivery elements contact an interior wall of the renal blood vessel when the array is in the deployed (e.g., spiral/helical) state. The electrodes or energy delivery elements are configured for direct and/or indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.