Renal Denervation Planning With Volume-of-Influence Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing denervation therapies lack precision in targeting overactive nerves while minimizing impact on non-target tissues, leading to inefficiencies and potential adverse effects.
Innovation Solution
A computer model-based system determines patient-specific tissue characteristics and anatomy to estimate the volume of influence of denervation therapy, allowing for precise delivery of electrical, chemical, or thermal energy to target nerves while avoiding non-target tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If denervation therapy is delivered to target nerves, then nerve activity is reduced or eliminated, but non-target tissues may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating a computer model of the patient's anatomy and estimating the volume of influence before delivering denervation therapy. This allows the operator to visualize and plan the therapy delivery, ensuring that the denervation stimulus will affect the target nerve while avoiding non-target tissues. The preliminary modeling and visualization enable precise parameter selection to achieve effective denervation without adverse effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by using the computer model and volume of influence estimation to guide and adjust denervation therapy delivery. The visual representation of the volume of influence provides real-time feedback to the operator about the expected effect of therapy parameters, allowing for optimization of delivery settings to achieve effective nerve denervation while minimizing impact on surrounding non-target tissues.
2Measurement precision
If denervation therapy parameters are increased to improve nerve targeting, then denervation efficacy increases, but impact on non-target tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing detailed visual information about the spatial distribution of the volume of influence at different locations and orientations. This allows the operator to select therapy parameters that concentrate the denervation effect precisely on the target nerve while limiting the affected area in surrounding tissues. The localized visual feedback enables optimization of each therapy delivery location independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional parameter adjustment to three-dimensional visualization and planning by generating a computer model and estimating the volume of influence in 3D space. This dimensional expansion allows the operator to understand and control the spatial distribution of therapy effects, enabling precise targeting of the nerve while avoiding excessive spread to non-target tissues through strategic selection of delivery location and orientation.
3Measurement precision
If computer modeling and visualization are added to denervation therapy, then targeting precision improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy or model of the patient's anatomy and the expected volume of influence, allowing visualization and planning without adding physical complexity to the actual therapy delivery device. This virtual modeling approach enables precise targeting capabilities while keeping the physical system relatively simple, as the computational model handles the complexity of predicting and visualizing therapy effects.
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
Enhances the efficacy and efficiency of denervation therapy by accurately targeting nerves and minimizing impact on non-target tissues, reducing procedure time and adverse effects.
Implementation Method 1
delivering electrical, chemical, light or laser, microwave, radiation, and/or thermal energy to a nerve in order to render the nerve inert, inactive, or otherwise completely or partially reduced in function
Implementation Method 2
delivering electrical, chemical, light or laser, microwave, radiation, and/or thermal energy to a nerve
Implementation Method 3
delivering electrical, chemical, light or laser, microwave, radiation, and/or thermal energy to a nerve
Implementation Method 4
delivering electrical, chemical, light or laser, microwave, radiation, and/or thermal energy to a nerve
Implementation Method 5
The volume of influence may be estimated based on a computer model generated from a digital reconstruction of a region of a patient, the digital reconstruction indicating parameters such as tissue types and relative locations
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
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AI summary
Example systems and techniques for denervation, for example, renal denervation. In some examples, a processor determines one or more tissue characteristics of tissue proximate a target nerve and a blood vessel. The processor may generate, based on the one or more tissue characteristics, an estimated volume of influence of denervation therapy delivered by a therapy delivery device disposed within the blood vessel. The processor may generate a graphical user interface including a graphical representation of the tissue proximate the target nerve and the blood vessel and a graphical representation of the estimated volume of influence.