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Publication Number
US-9999463-B2
Publication Date
2018-06-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods provide interface to a patient's autonomic nerves via an interior lumen wall of a blood vessel. Systems can include a probe having at least one electrode for receiving electrical signals from the interior of the lumen wall. The system can include processing components for extracting the signals from noise within the patient's body. Systems can include stimulation electrodes for providing stimulation and eliciting action potentials within the patient and destructive processes for destroying nervous function. The effect of nerve destruction on the propagation of action potentials can be effectively used as a feedback mechanism for determining the amount of nervous function destruction in the patient.
Core Innovation
The disclosed systems use an intravascular probe and an electronic control unit to assess autonomic nerve activity through electrical signals detected at a blood-vessel interior wall. The electronic control unit adjusts capacitance to amplify or attenuate detected signals according to their frequency content, processes received signals, and presents information about the signals or processing results.
The disclosed method assesses the effect of a nerve destruction process by evaluating elicited potentials before and after treatment. The partial content describes the problem as distinguishing neural signals and determining whether nerve destruction sufficiently affects the elicited potential, with signal processing used to support assessment and feedback.
Claims Coverage
The four independent claims cover one method and three intravascular assessment systems. Their inventive features concern assessing the effect of nerve destruction, stimulating and recording through a probe, processing and presenting detected signals, and using adjustable capacitance to detect or condition signals.
Assessment of nerve destruction using elicited potentials
The method uses an electronic control unit, electrical stimulation, and recorded electrical data to determine whether a nerve destruction process sufficiently affects an elicited potential. The electronic control unit adjusts capacitance to amplify or attenuate detected signals based on their frequency content.
Probe and electronic control unit for assessing elicited potentials
The system includes a probe with stimulating and recording electrodes and an electronic control unit that adjusts capacitance, provides a signal capable of provoking an elicited potential, receives and processes detected signals, and presents information to a user.
Intravascular assessment with signal processing and presentation
The system includes a probe electrode that detects electrical signals from a blood-vessel interior wall and an electronic control unit that adjusts system capacitance, receives and processes signals, and presents the output signal or information about the received signal and its processing.
Intravascular detection enabled by adjustable capacitance
The system includes a probe electrode capable of detecting electrical signals from a blood-vessel interior wall and an electronic control unit with adjustable capacitance, where adjustment enables detection of potentials in autonomic nerves.
Together, the independent claims cover a method for assessing the effect of nerve destruction and systems for intravascular autonomic nerve assessment. The systems combine probe-based signal detection with electronic control unit functions for capacitance adjustment, signal processing, and, in some claims, information presentation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Intravascular assessment of autonomic nervous activity using electrical signals detected from a blood-vessel interior wall.
Assessment of the effect of a nerve destruction process on elicited potentials, including feedback on whether the effect is sufficient.
Diagnostic monitoring of spontaneous autonomic nerve activity.
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