Quantification of renal denervation via alterations in renal blood flow pre/post ablation
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
InventorsMartin Cholette, Sergio Shkurovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A renal denervation catheter includes a catheter shaft, at least one ablation member, and a sensor, and is operable to perform a renal denervation procedure. The catheter shaft includes a distal end portion insertable into a renal artery. The at least one ablation member is positioned at the distal end portion of the catheter shaft and operable to ablate renal nerves along a wall of the renal artery. The sensor provides information that correlates to blood flow in the renal artery. A change in blood flow rate in the renal artery resulting from the ablation is indicative of the efficacy of the renal denervation procedure.
Claims22
A renal denervation catheter, comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a distal end portion insertable into a renal artery;
- at least one ablation member positioned at the distal end portion of the catheter shaft and operable to ablate renal nerves along a wall of the renal artery;
- a vibration sensor configured to measure vibrations in the renal denervation catheter prior to and after operating the at least one ablation member to ablate the renal nerves, wherein a comparison of the measured vibrations is used to determine a change in blood flow rate in the renal artery resulting from the ablation.
A method of determining efficacy of a renal denervation procedure in a renal artery, comprising:
- providing a renal denervation catheter having at least one ablation member and at least one vibration sensor;
- operating the at least one ablation member to provide renal denervation in the renal artery;
- measuring vibrations in the renal denervation catheter prior to and after providing the renal denervation;
- comparing the measured vibrations to determine a change in blood flow rate through the renal artery as an indicator of efficacy of the renal denervation.
A renal denervation catheter, comprising:
- a catheter shaft having a distal end portion;
- at least one ablation member positioned at a distal end portion of the catheter shaft and operable to provide renal denervation in a renal artery;
- a temperature monitoring system having at least one temperature sensor and configured to determine a change in temperature in a blood flow through the renal artery, the change in temperature correlating to a rate of blood flow.
A method of determining efficacy of a renal denervation procedure in a renal artery, comprising:
- providing a renal denervation catheter having at least one ablation member and at least one temperature sensor;
- operating the at least one ablation member to provide denervation of renal nerves along the renal artery;
- measuring a temperature change in blood flow through the renal artery with the at least one temperature sensor prior to and after the denervation;
- comparing the measured temperature changes to determine a change in blood flow rate through the renal artery as an indicator of efficacy of the denervation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.