Steerable Catheter with Arcuate RF Electrodes for Renal Denervation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive medical instruments face challenges in navigating tortuous vascular pathways and accurately denervating the renal plexus due to limited navigation degrees of freedom and the complexity of tissue structures, necessitating a more precise and controllable system for renal plexus denervation therapy.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a pre-shaped ablative element with RF electrodes in an arcuate pattern, coupled with an elongate deployment member and an energy source for localized heating, and an electromechanically steerable catheter navigated using a robotic instrument driver for precise denervation of the renal plexus, allowing for both compressed and expanded configurations to facilitate effective tissue denervation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive instruments are used to access renal artery, then tissue trauma is reduced, but navigation precision and controllability deteriorate due to tortuous vascular pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple steerable segments along its length, each capable of independent angular adjustment. This segmentation allows the catheter to navigate tortuous vascular pathways by bending at multiple joints rather than requiring a single large bend, improving navigation precision while maintaining minimal invasiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter employs dynamic steerable segments with adjustable angles that can be modified during navigation. The ability to dynamically change the bending angle of each segment allows operators to adapt to varying vascular geometries, enhancing controllability and navigation precision without increasing tissue trauma
2Ease of operation
If steerable catheter with multiple segments is used, then navigation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable segments are nested within each other, with each segment containing the control mechanisms for the next segment. This nested structure allows multiple degrees of freedom to be integrated in a compact manner, improving navigation precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter integrates multiple functions including navigation, imaging, and denervation therapy within a single multi-segment structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices, thereby improving navigation precision without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
3Reliability
If pre-shaped ablative element is used for denervation, then denervation effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different tissue configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ablative element is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities that allow it to be adjusted and repositioned during the procedure. This enables the element to adapt to different tissue configurations while maintaining consistent denervation effectiveness through controlled RF energy delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter employs multiple RF electrodes distributed along its length, each capable of independent activation. This allows localized denervation treatment to be applied to specific tissue configurations, improving both denervation effectiveness and adaptability to varying anatomical structures
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
Enables precise and controlled denervation of the renal plexus with reduced tissue trauma, improving the effectiveness of renal plexus denervation therapy by providing enhanced navigation and operational functionality within the renal artery.
Implementation Method 1
an energy source operatively coupled to the one or more RF electrodes and being configured to cause current to flow from the pre-shaped ablative element and cause localized heating sufficient to denervate nearby neural tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A system for conducting denervation of the neural plexus adjacent the renal artery, comprises a pre-shaped ablative element operatively coupled to an elongate deployment member configured to be navigated into the renal artery, the pre-shaped ablative element comprising one or more RF electrodes disposed in an arcuate pattern; and an energy source operatively coupled to the one or more RF electrodes and being configured to cause current to flow from the pre-shaped ablative element and cause localized heating sufficient to denervate nearby neural tissue.