Ablation Catheter for Splanchnic Nerve Modulation in Heart Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current therapies for heart failure, particularly diastolic dysfunction and acute decompensated heart failure, lack effective management strategies, leading to recurrent hospital admissions and significant healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves ablating the thoracic splanchnic nerve or its root to increase splanchnic capacitance, using a medical device positioned intravascularly to deliver ablation energy and create lesions in the thoracic splanchnic nerves, thereby treating hypertension and heart failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional heart failure management strategies are used, then current standard of care is maintained, but therapeutic effectiveness is insufficient leading to recurrent admissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physiological parameter of splanchnic venous capacitance through nerve ablation. By selectively ablating the thoracic splanchnic nerve, the system alters the tone of splanchnic venous vessels, increasing capacitance and thereby redistributing blood volume away from the central circulation. This parameter change provides a new therapeutic mechanism that addresses heart failure pathophysiology differently from conventional approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical heart failure management (fluid restriction, diuretics, mechanical support devices) with a neuro-modulation approach. Instead of directly managing fluid mechanics in the cardiovascular system, the invention uses thermal or radiofrequency ablation to modify neural control of splanchnic vessels, thereby indirectly achieving hemodynamic optimization.
2Reliability
If new therapies for heart failure are developed, then treatment effectiveness may be improved, but safety risks increase due to unproven mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the splanchnic nervous system as an intermediary to achieve cardiovascular therapeutic effects. Rather than directly intervening in the heart or major vessels, the invention targets the thoracic splanchnic nerve as a remote control mechanism. This intermediary approach allows modulation of splanchnic venous capacitance and blood volume distribution with potentially fewer direct risks to cardiac structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively ablating only the thoracic splanchnic nerve while preserving other autonomic pathways. This selective approach targets specifically the efferent sympathetic fibers that control splanchnic vascular tone, leaving parasympathetic and other sympathetic pathways intact, thereby achieving therapeutic effect with minimized side effects.
3Ease of operation
If salt and fluid retention management is focused on, then classical heart failure paradigm is followed, but new effective therapies are not identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of fluid and salt management (diuretics, fluid restriction) with a neuro-modulation system. By ablating the thoracic splanchnic nerve, the treatment fundamentally changes how blood volume is regulated in the splanchnic bed, shifting from pharmacological fluid removal to neural control of vascular capacitance.
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 potentially provides a safe and effective treatment for heart failure by reducing blood volume in the splanchnic bed, alleviating symptoms and reducing healthcare costs associated with recurrent admissions.
Implementation Method 1
using the medical device to ablate tissue and create a lesion
Implementation Method 2
delivering ablation energy from the medical device to create a lesion in tissue surrounding the first vessel
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer and an ablation catheter, wherein the computer is configured for performing a computer executable method comprising tracking or calculating (323) an accumulated volume of liquid that has been delivered from outside of a catheter, through the catheter, and into a patient; the method further comprises, in response to an exclusion event that is indicative of the catheter not being inside the patient, stopping (328) to track or calculate the accumulated volume of liquid to avoid including a volume of fluid that is not delivered into the patient's vasculature from being included in the accumulated volume.