Feedback systems and methods utilizing two or more sites along denervation catheter

• US 9,186,212 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nabutovsky, Yelena, Karst, Edward, Min, Xiaoyi, Rosenberg, Stuart, Gupta, Kritika
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/840,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20140276746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41, 606/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00863 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00

Abstract

A renal denervation system includes a renal denervation catheter and a flow determining system. The renal denervation catheter includes a plurality of ablation members positioned at a distal end portion thereof. The renal denervation catheter is insertable into a renal artery. The flow determining system includes a processor and first and second flow determining members spaced apart on the renal denervation catheter. The processor is configured to determine a change in blood flow through the renal artery resulting from a renal denervation procedure using the renal denervation catheter in response to input from the first and second flow determining members.

Claims

1. A renal denervation system, comprising:

a renal denervation catheter having a plurality of ablation members positioned at a distal end portion thereof and being insertable into a renal artery;

a flow determining system selected from the group consisting of;

a first flow determining member comprising at least one fluid port configured to release a flow of fluid into the renal artery, a second flow determining member comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the flow of the fluid, and a processor configured to determine a time delay between releasing the flow of fluid and detecting the flow of fluid prior to and after treating the renal artery with the renal denervation catheter;

a first flow determining member and a second flow determining member being spaced apart along a length of the renal denervation catheter each comprising at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure wave advanced through the renal artery in a first direction and reflected through the renal artery in an opposite direction, and a processor configured to determine a change in amplitude of the pressure wave reflected through the renal artery; and

a first flow determining member and a second flow determining member each comprising at least one wire coil, the first flow determining member configured to generate an electromagnetic field to orient dipoles of red blood cells in the blood flow passing through the at least one wire coil of the first flow determining member, the red blood cells inducing current in the at least one wire coil of the second flow determining member, and a processor configured to determine a change in blood flow through the renal artery resulting from a renal denervation procedure using the renal denervation catheter and in response to input from the first and second flow determining members.

2. The renal denervation system of claim 1, wherein a difference in the time delay prior to and after treating the renal artery with the renal denervation catheter corresponds to a change in blood flow.

3. The renal denervation system of claim 1, wherein the renal denervation catheter comprises a basket construction having a plurality of arms, and the plurality of ablation members are positioned on separate ones of the plurality of arms.

4. The renal denervation system of claim 1, wherein the renal denervation catheter operates using one of radiofrequency and ultrasound.

5. A method of determining efficacy of a renal denervation procedure in a renal artery, comprising:

providing a renal denervation catheter and a flow determining system;

determining a preliminary flow characteristic of blood flow through the renal artery;

ablating the renal artery with the renal denervation catheter as part of a renal denervation procedure;

determining a subsequent flow characteristic of blood flow through the renal artery after ablating;

comparing the preliminary flow characteristic with the subsequent flow characteristic to determine a change in blood flow, which corresponds to efficacy of the renal denervation procedure,

wherein determining the preliminary and subsequent flow characteristic comprises at least one of;

injecting a flow of fluid into the blood flow at a first location and determining a presence of the flow of fluid at an axially spaced apart second location;

sensing with the flow determining system a pressure wave in the blood flow in a first direction and in an opposite direction by determining an amplitude of the pressure wave; and

generating an electromagnetic field that orients dipoles of red blood cells in the blood flow passing through a first coil of the flow determining system, the red blood cells inducing a current in a second coil of the flow determining system upon passing through the second coil downstream of the first coil.

6. A method of determining blood flow in a renal artery during a renal denervation procedure, the method comprising:

performing renal denervation on the renal artery;

determining a blood flow characteristic prior to and after performing renal denervation;

comparing the blood flow characteristic determined prior to and after performing renal denervation to determine whether blood flow has increased above a threshold level,

wherein determining the blood flow characteristic comprises at least one of;

injecting a flow of fluid into the renal artery at a first location and determining a presence of the flow of fluid at a second location downstream of the first location;

sensing an amplitude of a pressure wave in the blood flow in a first direction and in an opposite second direction; and

orienting dipoles of red blood cells in the blood flow at a first location, and passing the red blood cells through a coil at a downstream location to induce a current.