DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND/OR CONTROLLING DEPLOYMENT OF A NEUROMODULATION ELEMENT WITHIN A BODY LUMEN AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY

摘要

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods providing evaluation and feedback to an operator of a device providing neuromodulation treatment, such as modulation of renal nerves of a human patient. In one embodiment, for example, a system monitors parameters or values generated before treatment. Feedback provided to an operator is based on the monitored values and relates to an assessment of various electrical properties associated with an electrode carried by a catheter. The electrode measures an electrical property of biological material making contact with the electrode while deploying the electrode, the electrical property being dependent on a ratio of a wall-interface area to a fluid-interface area.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
advancing a catheter including an elongate shaft and a neuromodulation element operably connected to the shaft toward a treatment location within a body lumen of a human patient, the neuromodulation element including an elongate electrode slidably disposed within a dielectric sleeve; deploying the neuromodulation element after advancing the catheter, deploying the neuromodulation element including—
a first deployment phase during which the electrode moves radially outward while the size of a fluid-interface area of the electrode increases,a second deployment phase following the first deployment phase during which the electrode moves radially outward into contact with the wall of the body lumen while the size of a wall-interface area of the electrode increases,a third deployment phase following the second deployment phase, during which the fluid-interface area or the wall-interface area remain constant; and using the electrode to measure an electrical property of a sum of material adjacent to the electrode wherein the electrical property is a function of the size of the fluid-interface area and/or the size of the wall-interface area; and generating a status indication and/or enabling a neuromodulation treatment in response to the electrical property remaining constant within a predetermined range for a period of time during the third deployment phase.