Intravascular Catheter Distancing Device for Renal Denervation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter technologies for renal denervation lack effective methods for accurately positioning ultrasound transceivers relative to vessel walls to prevent thermal damage while ensuring efficient tissue ablation and real-time assessment of treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular catheter with a chassis and peripherally mounted piezoelectric transceivers, featuring a distancing device with collapsible leaflets to maintain a safe distance from vessel walls and a system for real-time monitoring of echo signals to assess treatment effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasound transceivers are positioned close to vessel walls for efficient ablation, then tissue ablation efficiency is improved, but thermal damage to vessel walls increases
Solution Approach 1:
A distancing device with collapsible leaflets is introduced as an intermediary between the ultrasound transceiver and the vessel wall. The leaflets maintain a controlled gap (e.g., 0.5-2mm) that allows sufficient ultrasound energy transmission for effective ablation while preventing direct thermal contact and potential damage to the vessel wall tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The distancing device employs collapsible leaflets that can dynamically adjust their configuration. The leaflets collapse during catheter insertion to minimize profile, then expand at the treatment site to provide the optimal distancing, and can be adjusted or collapsed again if needed during the procedure, providing dynamic control over the transceiver-vessel wall distance.
2Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of echo signals is implemented, then treatment efficacy assessment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric transceiver serves multiple functions: it generates ultrasound waves for ablation and simultaneously receives echo signals for real-time monitoring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensing elements, reducing device complexity while enabling precise treatment efficacy assessment through acoustic impedance changes and echo signal analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring echo signals during ultrasound delivery. Changes in echo intensity and acoustic impedance provide immediate feedback on tissue ablation progress, allowing the operator to adjust treatment parameters to achieve optimal denervation while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding structures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If collapsible leaflets are used for distancing, then thermal damage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leaflets are constructed from flexible, biocompatible materials that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for catheter insertion through narrow access vessels. Once deployed, the leaflets expand to provide the necessary distancing structure, and their flexibility allows them to conform to vessel geometry while maintaining the protective gap between the transceiver and vessel wall.
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
Enables safe and effective ultrasound ablation of nerve tissue with reduced thermal damage and immediate assessment of renal denervation treatment efficacy by maintaining a safe distance from vessel walls and utilizing real-time echo signal analysis.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of piezoelectric transceivers peripherally mounted onto the facets of the chassis, the transceivers electrically activated for emitting ultrasound energy suitable for tissue ablation, and for receiving echo signals
Implementation Method 2
emitting ultrasound energy suitable for tissue ablation
Implementation Method 3
ultrasound energy suitable for tissue ablation
Implementation Method 4
maintain a safe distance from vessel walls and to prevent thermal damage
Implementation Method 5
receiving echo signals
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a devices and methods for intravascular denervation and assessment thereof and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to devices and methods for renal denervation. Some embodiments of the invention relate to an intravascular catheter configured for ultrasonic ablation of the tissue, comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transceivers. In some embodiments, an intravascular distancing device is provided, the device adapted for obtaining at least a minimal distance between an ultrasound emitting element and a tissue, such as the blood vessel wall. Some embodiments of the invention relate to assessment of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) treatment effectiveness. Some embodiments of the invention relate to processing echo of signals, such as processing of signals to characterize physical and/or mechanical properties of the blood vessel.