RF Catheter Power Control for Tissue Remodeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating atherosclerotic plaque, such as balloon angioplasty and stenting, often cause trauma to tissues and do not effectively protect healthy tissue, leading to restenosis and other complications, especially in diffuse artery disease, bifurcations, and areas susceptible to torsion, elongation, or shortening, and lack effective means for remodeling blood vessel lumens without extreme dilation or implantation.
Innovation Solution
A power generating and control apparatus that delivers controlled energy dosage using RF, ultrasound, or microwave energy through a catheter with multiple energy delivery surfaces, featuring a PID controller to maintain power output within a set range based on impedance measurements, allowing for selective tissue remodeling and minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If balloon angioplasty and stenting are used to treat atherosclerotic plaque, then the blood vessel lumen is opened and blood flow is restored, but significant trauma is imposed on the tissues and healthy tissue is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical trauma-based treatments (balloon dilation, stenting, atherectomy) with RF energy-based tissue remodeling. The RF energy system heats and remodels plaque and tissue through thermal effects without requiring mechanical force, thereby restoring blood flow while minimizing physical trauma to the vessel wall and surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of tissue through controlled RF heating, transitioning tissue from a cold to a heated state to achieve remodeling. By controlling temperature parameters and energy delivery, the system selectively remodels plaque while preserving healthy tissue, avoiding the mechanical damage associated with traditional interventions.
2Productivity
If extreme dilation or implantation is performed to treat luminal obstructions, then blood flow is restored, but invasive procedures and implants are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for mechanical implants (stents, balloons) by using RF energy to directly remodel and expand the vessel lumen through thermal effects on the tissue. This energy-based approach achieves lumen opening without requiring foreign body implants or complex mechanical devices to be left in place.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional methods are used to treat diffuse artery disease and bifurcations, then some areas are treated, but areas susceptible to torsion, elongation, or shortening are not effectively protected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses controlled, periodic RF energy delivery to treat diffuse disease along the vessel length. The system can sequentially treat different segments of the artery, including bifurcations and areas prone to mechanical stress, by advancing the catheter and delivering energy in controlled intervals, ensuring comprehensive coverage while protecting vulnerable areas through precise energy control.
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 controlled tissue remodeling with reduced trauma, effective in treating atherosclerotic plaque and other luminal obstructions by maintaining a uniform temperature distribution and promoting therapeutic biological responses without the need for invasive implants or extreme dilation.
Implementation Method 1
A power generating and control apparatus that delivers controlled energy dosage using RF, ultrasound, or microwave energy
Implementation Method 2
A power generating and control apparatus that delivers controlled energy dosage using RF, ultrasound, or microwave energy
Implementation Method 3
A power generating and control apparatus that delivers controlled energy dosage using RF, ultrasound, or microwave energy
Implementation Method 4
featuring a PID controller to maintain power output within a set range based on impedance measurements
Implementation Method 5
enables controlled tissue remodeling with reduced trauma, effective in treating atherosclerotic plaque and other luminal obstructions by maintaining a uniform temperature distribution
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for the generation and control of energy delivery in a dosage to elicit a therapeutic response in diseased tissue. A balloon catheter can have electrodes attached to a power generator and controller such that the balloon and electrodes contact tissue during energy treatment. Energy selectively may be applied to tissue based on measured impedance to achieve gentle heating. Calibration of the apparatus and identification of attached accessories by computing the circuit impedance prior to energy dosage facilitate regulation of power delivery about a set point. Energy delivery can be controlled to achieve substantially uniform bulk tissue temperature distribution. Energy delivery may beneficially affect nerve activity.