Renal Pelvis Effector for Nerve Denervation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current renal denervation therapies for hypertension often rely on intravascular approaches that pose risks of injury to the renal artery and are invasive, making it desirable to develop alternative methods that are minimally invasive and do not require access through the main renal artery, while being economical and scalable.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an effector positioned within the renal pelvis to deliver energy or active agents to the renal nerves through the renal pelvis wall, either via an expandable structure, tissue-penetrating needles, or radiation-emitting sources, to modulate or disrupt renal nerve activity, thereby reducing blood pressure and treating hypertension without damaging surrounding kidney structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intravascular approach is used to deliver energy to renal nerves, then renal nerve denervation can be achieved, but risk of injury to renal artery increases and invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the renal pelvis as an intermediary structure to access and deliver energy to renal nerves. Instead of directly accessing nerves through the renal artery, the effector is positioned within the renal pelvis cavity, which serves as a safe intermediary space that allows energy delivery to nerves without contacting or damaging the arterial wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical intravascular access system with a non-intravascular approach. Rather than physically navigating catheters through the renal artery lumen, the system uses energy fields (electromagnetic, acoustic, or thermal) that can penetrate through the renal pelvis wall to reach and affect the nerves, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact with the artery.
2Reliability
If intravascular catheter is advanced to main renal artery, then renal nerve disruption can be achieved, but device complexity and procedural invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The renal pelvis cavity serves as an intermediary workspace that simplifies the access pathway. The effector device can be introduced through less complex routes (such as percutaneous or endoscopic access to the renal pelvis) rather than requiring complex intravascular navigation, while still enabling effective nerve disruption through the pelvis wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional intravascular approach (within the artery lumen) to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional approach by utilizing the renal pelvis cavity space. This allows the effector to be positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the nerves, enabling energy delivery without requiring complex navigation through the arterial tree.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If energy is delivered through renal pelvis wall, then renal nerve modulation is achieved with reduced injury risk, but energy delivery precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The effector device is designed to deliver energy locally and selectively to specific regions of the renal pelvis wall where nerves are present. The energy delivery is concentrated at the tissue interface rather than being dispersed throughout the entire pelvis, allowing precise modulation of target nerves while sparing surrounding kidney structures from excessive energy exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The effector may be designed with dynamic positioning or adjustable energy delivery characteristics that allow real-time optimization of energy distribution. This enables the system to adapt to variations in tissue thickness, nerve location, and anatomical geometry, maintaining precision despite the indirect delivery path through the renal pelvis 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
This approach allows for effective renal nerve denervation or modulation with reduced risk of injury, maintaining the integrity of sensitive kidney structures and offering a minimally invasive, scalable, and economical solution for treating hypertension and other conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the catheter is used to deliver radiofrequency energy, heat, drugs, or the like to disrupt the function of the renal nerves
Implementation Method 2
deliver radiofrequency energy, heat, drugs, or the like to disrupt the function of the renal nerves
Implementation Method 3
delivering energy or active agents through the renal pelvis to modify sympathetic nerve activity... using an effector which has been positioned within the interior of the renal pelvis
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems, and methods provide access to the renal pelvis of a kidney to treat renal nerves embedded in tissue surrounding the renal pelvis. Access to the renal pelvis may be via the urinary tract or via minimally invasive incisions through the abdomen and kidney tissue. Treatment is effected by exchanging energy, typically delivering heat or extracting heat through a wall of the renal pelvis, or by delivering active substances.