Intravascular Shock Wave Device for Renal Plexus Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for chronic hypertension, including pharmacological agents and renal denervation devices, may be insufficient for some patients, necessitating alternative methods to modulate neural activity effectively and reduce blood pressure.
Innovation Solution
Intravascular systems and methods using shock wave devices to modulate the activation of the renal plexus and/or baroreceptors, where shock waves are applied to temporarily or permanently affect neural activity to reduce blood pressure, either by deactivating the renal plexus or stimulating the carotid sinus baroreceptors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmacological agents are used to control blood pressure, then blood pressure can be reduced, but the treatment may be insufficient for some patients and efficacy varies greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmacological (chemical) treatment with a mechanical/physical approach using shock wave devices to modulate neural activity. The shock wave generator delivers controlled acoustic energy to target nerves such as the renal plexus or baroreceptors, providing a non-pharmacological mechanism for blood pressure control that bypasses metabolic variability and drug resistance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental treatment parameter from chemical (pharmacological agents) to physical (shock wave energy). By adjusting shock wave parameters such as energy level, pulse duration, and treatment frequency, the system can achieve reliable blood pressure reduction while adapting to different patient anatomies and physiological responses.
2Reliability
If renal denervation devices are used to ablate the renal plexus, then blood pressure reduction can be achieved, but the procedure requires permanent tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic shock wave pulses delivered in controlled sequences rather than continuous energy application. This allows for temporary neural modulation through repeated low-energy impulses that accumulate therapeutic effect without causing permanent tissue destruction, enabling reversible blood pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies shock waves at energy levels and durations that are sufficient to modulate neural activity temporarily but below the threshold required for permanent ablation. This partial action achieves the therapeutic goal of blood pressure reduction while avoiding the harmful effect of permanent tissue damage, allowing for reversible treatment.
3Reliability
If shock wave devices are used to temporarily deactivate the renal plexus, then blood pressure reduction can be tested, but the procedure requires multiple treatment sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary temporary deactivation of the renal plexus using shock waves before committing to permanent ablation. This preliminary action allows clinicians to test the therapeutic response and predict long-term outcomes, ensuring that permanent treatment is only pursued when temporary modulation proves effective, thereby avoiding unnecessary permanent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the treatment process into distinct phases: initial temporary deactivation phase for testing, evaluation phase for assessing blood pressure response, and decision phase for determining whether permanent ablation is warranted. This segmentation allows for systematic evaluation while minimizing overall treatment time through structured progression.
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
The use of shock wave devices allows for temporary or permanent modulation of neural activity, providing a means to determine and achieve blood pressure reduction, potentially offering a more effective treatment option for hypertension when pharmacological interventions are insufficient.
Implementation Method 1
initiating a shock wave from the shock wave generator at a first location in the renal artery adjacent to a renal plexus to impinge upon a wall of the renal artery
Implementation Method 2
Shock waves may create positive pressure pulses that may be sensed by the baroreceptors, which then signal the nervous system via the baroreflex to reduce blood pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are intravascular systems and methods for modulating the activation of neural activity using shock wave devices. In one embodiment, the system is used to treat the nerves in the renal plexus. In a second embodiment, the system is used to treat the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus. In a preferred embodiment, the shock wave generator is in the form of electrodes mounted within an inflatable balloon.