US 12,350,028 B2
Systems and methods for assessing efficacy of renal neuromodulation therapy
Douglas Hettrick, Andover, MN (US); and Paul Coates, Corte Madera, CA (US)
Assigned to Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company, Dublin (IE)
Filed by Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/298,414.
Application 18/298,414 is a continuation of application No. 16/121,472, filed on Sep. 4, 2018, granted, now 11,633,120.
Prior Publication US 2023/0240549 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 5/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/027 (2006.01); A61B 5/0275 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 18/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/027 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0275 (2013.01); A61B 5/4848 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00404 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00434 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00511 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00863 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0212 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1435 (2013.01); A61B 2018/167 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
positioning a catheter including one or more electrodes at a target site within a blood vessel of a patient;
delivering neuromodulation energy at the target site via at least one electrode of the one or more electrodes of the catheter;
introducing a bolus of an indicator fluid into the blood vessel upstream of the target site relative to a direction of blood flow in the blood vessel, the bolus having a known volume;
obtaining a measurement related to a blood flow rate through the blood vessel via the catheter, wherein obtaining the measurement related to the blood flow rate includes:
determining a transient change in an impedance in the blood vessel resulting from the bolus of the indicator fluid;
determining the measurement related to the blood flow rate based on the transient change in the impedance and the known volume; and
correcting the measurement related to the blood flow rate for at least one of a current leakage into surrounding tissue of the blood vessel or a non-homogeneity of an impedance field across a cross-sectional area of the blood vessel, wherein correcting the measurement is based on a flow rate offset and a flow rate gain term;
comparing the measurement to a baseline measurement related to the blood flow rate through the blood vessel; and
assessing efficacy of neuromodulation therapy based, at least in part, on the comparison.