Renal Denervation Catheter with Nerve Activity Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current renal denervation ablation catheters are bulky, difficult to position accurately within the renal artery, and often result in lengthy recovery periods due to their large diameter, which can cause bleeding, and lack the ability to precisely target overactive sympathetic nerves.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a distal end sensor to detect nerve activity and a radio frequency generator for controlled ablation, featuring a handle for bidirectional steering and electrodes with thermocouples for temperature regulation, allowing for precise energy delivery and nerve activity monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-electrode catheters are used for renal denervation, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but catheter diameter increases making them difficult to position and causing bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs multiple independent electrodes distributed along its length rather than a single large electrode, allowing the catheter to maintain a smaller overall diameter while achieving effective ablation through distributed energy delivery points
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point ablation approach to a distributed multi-point approach along the catheter's length, effectively using the longitudinal dimension to achieve comprehensive nerve ablation without increasing radial diameter
2Productivity
If conventional ablation catheters are used, then procedure can be performed, but positioning accuracy is poor due to inability to detect nerve location
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback on nerve activity and location to the operator, enabling precise positioning and targeted ablation of sympathetic nerves based on actual physiological signals detected during the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system acts as an intermediary between the catheter and the sympathetic nerves, detecting nerve activity patterns and transmitting this information to guide precise catheter positioning and ablation delivery
3Reliability
If large diameter catheters are used for renal denervation, then ablation can be performed, but bleeding risk increases and recovery period lengthens
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ablation function across multiple smaller electrodes distributed along the catheter, the system achieves effective nerve ablation without requiring a large catheter diameter, thereby reducing bleeding risk and recovery time
Solution Approach 2:
Each electrode provides localized ablation capability at its specific position along the renal artery, allowing precise targeted treatment of nerve segments without requiring a large overall catheter diameter that would cause systemic bleeding issues
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 precise targeting of overactive sympathetic nerves, reducing procedure time and minimizing bleeding risks by accurately positioning the catheter and controlling ablation energy based on real-time nerve activity, thus improving the efficiency and safety of renal denervation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to sense a condition of one or more nerves
Implementation Method 2
By applying RF pulses to the renal arteries, the nerves in the vascular wall (adventitia layer) can be denervated
Implementation Method 3
ablation catheters for performing renal denervation procedures through the renal artery of a patient
Implementation Method 4
electrodes with thermocouples for temperature regulation
Data Source
AI summary
A system for use in a renal denervation procedure includes a catheter having proximal and distal end portions, a sensor configured to sense a condition of one or more nerves, the sensor operatively associated with the distal end portion of the catheter, and at least one electrode disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter for delivering energy to renal tissue. A catheter includes a catheter body defining a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a sensor for sensing a renal sympathetic nerve, the sensor disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter body, wherein the sensor is configured to sense an electromagnetic signal from the renal sympathetic nerve.