System and method of using evoked compound action potentials to minimize vessel trauma during nerve ablation

A therapy system for use with a patient, comprising:

• a cylindrical support structure configured for being deployed in a blood vessel of the patient;
• a plurality of electrodes circumferentially disposed about the cylindrical support structure;
• a plurality of ablative elements circumferentially disposed about the cylindrical support structure respectively adjacent the plurality of electrodes;
• an electrode configured for being deployed in the blood vessel of the patient at a location axially remote from the plurality of electrodes;
• stimulation output circuitry;
• monitoring circuitry;
• an ablation source;
• and
• a controller/processor configured for performing at least one of a first process and a second process,
• wherein the first process comprises prompting the stimulation output circuitry to sequentially activate the plurality of electrodes to evoke at least one compound action potential in a nerve associated with the blood vessel, prompting the monitoring circuitry to activate the axially remote electrode in response to the activation of each of the plurality of electrodes to sense the at least one evoked compound action potential, and identifying one of the plurality of electrodes based on the at least one sensed compound action potential;
• wherein the second process comprises prompting the stimulation output circuitry to active the axially remote electrode to evoke at least one compound action potential in the nerve associated with the blood vessel, prompting the monitoring circuitry to sequentially activate the plurality of electrodes in response to the activation of the axially remote electrode to sense the at least one evoked compound action potential, and identifying the one electrode based on the at least one sensed compound action potential,
• wherein the controller/processor is configured for prompting the ablation source to delivering ablation energy to the ablative element adjacent the identified electrode.