Pulse Wave Imaging for Vessel Stiffness Homogeneity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current techniques for identifying patients responsive to denervation therapy, such as renal denervation, are not accurate or reliable, as they fail to distinguish between irreversible structural increases in arterial stiffness and dynamically increased stiffness due to sympathetically mediated changes.

Innovation Solution

The use of pulse wave imaging to measure pulse wave velocity and determine vessel stiffness at multiple locations, allowing for the identification of homogeneous vessel wall stiffness, which indicates a better candidate for denervation therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current techniques are used to identify patients for denervation therapy, then the identification process is simple, but the accuracy and reliability of identifying responsive patients is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of patient identificationVSAvoidcomplexity of identification system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identification process is segmented into multiple distinct stages: initial stiffness measurement, homogeneity assessment, and responsive candidate determination. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on specific measurement tasks, improving overall accuracy while maintaining systematic simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Vessel stiffness measurements are performed preliminarily before denervation therapy to identify suitable candidates. This preliminary assessment ensures that only patients with appropriate vessel characteristics proceed to treatment, improving identification accuracy without requiring complex real-time monitoring during the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If vessel stiffness measurements are taken at multiple locations, then the ability to assess homogeneity and identify suitable candidates improves, but the measurement time and data processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of candidate identificationVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Measurements are taken at a sufficient number of locations along the vessel to assess homogeneity reliably, but not necessarily at every possible location. This partial action approach achieves adequate reliability for candidate identification without excessive measurement time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from multiple measurement locations to determine vessel wall stiffness homogeneity. This feedback mechanism allows the system to reliably identify suitable candidates by comparing measurements across different segments of the vessel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If denervation therapy is delivered without assessing vessel stiffness homogeneity, then the treatment can be administered more quickly, but the therapeutic effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment delivery speedVSAvoidtherapeutic effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Vessel stiffness homogeneity is assessed preliminarily before denervation therapy delivery to ensure therapeutic effectiveness. This preliminary assessment identifies patients most likely to respond to treatment, ensuring that the therapy is administered to appropriate candidates without delaying the treatment process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines vessel stiffness homogeneity and identifies suitable candidates without requiring complex manual assessment. This self-service capability maintains treatment delivery speed while improving therapeutic effectiveness through accurate patient selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 approach enables the accurate identification of patients likely to respond to denervation therapy by differentiating between reversible and irreversible vessel stiffness, thereby optimizing treatment outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

The use of pulse wave imaging to measure pulse wave velocity and determine vessel stiffness at multiple locations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulse wave velocity measurement: Speed of Sound

Implementation Method 2

determine whether the corresponding indications of stiffness satisfy a homogeneity condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHomogeneity analysis:

Data Source

PatentUS20250040880A1Identifying suitable candidates for denervation therapy

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 MEDTRONIC IRELAND MFG UNLIMITED CO

AI summary

A computing device is configured to identify a suitable patient candidate for denervation therapy. The therapeutic assembly includes an energy delivery element. The computing device is configured to obtain, for each location of a plurality of locations of a vessel of a patient, a corresponding indication of stiffness associated with the location of the vessel. The computing device is further configured to determine whether the corresponding indications of stiffness satisfy a homogeneity condition. Responsive to the computing device determining that the corresponding indications of stiffness satisfy the homogeneity condition, the computing device is further configured to output an indication that the patient is a candidate for a denervation therapy.