Patent ID: 12257071

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numerals may refer to similar or identical elements throughout the description of the figures.

A controlled nerve ablation system may include the capability to sense one or more physiologic parameters at one or more points around a surgical site, and/or include the capability to stimulate and/or ablate tissues at one or more of the same points and/or an alternative point around a surgical site. In aspects, the nerve ablation system may be configured so as to access a lumen, a vessel, very narrow vessels, and/or surgical sites in the body. The non-limiting examples disclosed herein are directed towards such configurations (e.g. so as to controllably ablate renal nerves along a renal artery with a catheterized procedure).

By lumen is meant a substantially hollow structure, with one or more walls, enclosing a cavity. In the context of the present disclosure, a lumen is generally considered elongate in shape, having a longitudinal direction running along the length thereof, a radial direction running substantially perpendicularly to a wall of the lumen, and a circumferential direction running substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along a wall of the lumen. In aspects, a lumen may include a branch (a bifurication), a bend, a tortuous pathway, a changing diameter (i.e. a diameter that changes along the length thereof), and the like. It is envisaged that a system in accordance with the present disclosure may be apt at navigating such complicated features, thus providing therapy to a range of challenging to reach locations.

The nerve ablation system may include one or more sensing tips (e.g. as located on a micro-tip, a wire, an electrode in a matrix, on a flexible balloon, etc.). One or more sensing tips may include a pressure sensor, a tonal sensor, a temperature sensor, an electrode (e.g. to interact with a local tissue site, provide a stimulus thereto, measure a potential therefrom, monitor current to/from the tissues, to measure a bioimpedance, measure an evoked potential, electrolyte or solute concentration, an electromyographic signal [EMG], an electrocardiographic signal [ECG], a mechanomyographic signal [MMG], a local field potential, etc.), an acoustic sensor, an oxygen saturation sensor, or the like.

The sensing tips may be configured to elucidate a range of key physiological aspects before, during, and/or after a procedure. The following description outlines some non-limiting approaches in this respect. Such sensing tips may be integrated into one or more microfingers, micro-tips, flexible circuits, stretchable substrates, etc.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured to monitor bioimpedance between one or more sensing tips to determine the degree of contact between the finger tips and the anatomical site, and/or potentially the bias force between the finger tips and the anatomical site. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, bioimpedance measurements between one or more sensing tips may be useful in determining when adequate contact has been made as well as how much current should be applied to an anatomical site during an ablation procedure. Furthermore, additionally, alternatively, or in combination bioimpedance between one or more sensing tips may be used to determine the status of tissue positioned there between. In one non-limiting example, the bioimpedance spectrum between two or more sensing tips may be used to map the local tissue impedance. Such information may be useful to elucidate where such tissue has been completely ablated, where tissue has yet to be ablated, etc.

In aspects, bioimpedance measurement between on or more sensing tips, a sensing tip and a separate electrode, etc. may be used to determine a state of isolation between one or more of the sensing tips and a local fluid (i.e. to determine a state of isolation between a sensing tip and fluid within a lumen, between a sensing tip and blood, etc.).

In aspects, one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured to obtain mechanomyographic information during a procedure as determined by slight changes in an associated strain measurement, tip vibration, and/or contact force measurement (e.g. via direct force measurement between the tip and the local anatomy, and/or via changes in the deformation of the microfinger as measured by an associated micro strain gage attached thereupon). Mechanomyographic information may be related to local nervous activity either naturally occurring or in response to a stimulus (e.g. optionally applied by one or more sensory tips, locally, remotely, during and/or via a local RF pulse, etc.). In aspects, a sensing tip may include a piezoresistive strain gauge, a piezoelectric microtransducer, an interfacial pressure sensing membrane or the like to detect mechanomyographic signals. In one non-limiting example, the sensing tip may be coated with a micro or nano coating of a piezoresistive and or piezoelectric material (e.g. a piezoelectric polymer, an electret, a nano-particulate filled elastomer, a conjugated polymer, etc.). In aspects, the mechanomyographic tip may be configured so as to measure one or more aspect of the tissue compliance of the local tissues (e.g. so as to identify calcified material, cancerous tissues, etc.).

In aspects, one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured to monitor an electrophysiological signal. Such electrophysiological monitoring at and/or between one or more sensing tips, may be used to map nervous response, electromyographic response (EMG), evoked potential, electrolyte or solute concentration, local field potential, extracellular field potentials, etc. along and/or within the wall of the local anatomical site (e.g. the wall of a lumen, a vessel wall, an artery wall, a venous wall, an organ wall, etc.). Such information may be advantageous for selecting tissues on which to perform a surgical procedure (e.g. an ablation procedure, a biopsy, etc.), to follow and/or map a nerve along the length of the surgical site (e.g. along the wall of an artery, a vein, a tubule, etc.), to determine the state of a surgical procedure, etc. In aspects, one or more sensing tips may be configured to monitor a local electromyographic (EMG) signal before, during and/or after a surgical procedure as a means for monitoring local nervous activity. In such aspects, the EMG signals may be used as feedback for monitoring the extent of a denervation procedure.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured to monitor the tone of a tissue within a body. Monitoring the tone (e.g. mechanical properties, wall stiffness, elastic spectral response, mechanical impedance, physiologic properties, etc.) of the adjacent tissues may be determined by combining strain and/or force measurement of the sensing tips while applying movement (optionally cyclical or oscillatory movement) to one or more sensor tips. Such sensing tips may be excited locally (e.g. such as by a local piezoelectric transducer, a capacitive transducer, an electrochemical transducer, a smart material, etc.) or globally (e.g. such as by oscillatory torsional oscillations, axial oscillations, linear oscillations of the surgical tool tip, the associated guide wire, catheter, etc.).

In aspects, one or more of the sensing tips may be interfaced asymmetrically with the associated tissues (i.e. with a bent tip, a micro finger, a wire-like finger configured substantially parallel to the tissue surface, oriented at an acute angle thereto, etc.). By asymmetrically is meant such that the sensing tip approaches the associated tissue surface at an angle other than perpendicular thereto. To describe the use of such a tip to monitor local tissue tone and/or for providing a controlled interfacial force before, during and/or after a procedure, for purposes of discussion, a clockwise torsion may be used to advance the sensing tip along the surface of the local tissues and a relatively small counterclockwise torsion may be used to measure the tone of adjacent tissues. By relatively small is meant an excitation that is sufficiently small in amplitude such that the sensing tip may not appreciably slide along the tissue surface. In aspects, one or more sensory tips, in a structure attached thereto, and/or a system in accordance with the present disclosure may include a vibratory exciter may be configured to generate the excitation.

In aspects, such a tone monitor may be combined with interfacial contact sensing, electrophysiological measurement, and/or sensor tip strain measurement in order to generate a wealth of local tissue information before, during, and/or after a surgical procedure. In one non-limiting example, the local tissues may stiffen during an ablation procedure. By monitoring local tissue tone, a stiffness level may be used to characterize when a suitable degree of ablation has been applied so as to irreversibly damage the tissues. Monitoring of a local tissue tone, perhaps at a monitoring site significantly removed from the surgical site such that the surgical procedure does not directly affect tissues in the vicinity of the monitoring site (i.e. does not directly cut, heat, ablate, abrade, the tissues, etc.) may also be advantageous for determining an effect of the surgical procedure on one or more physiologic parameters of a tissue (e.g. a vessel wall stiffness, change in nerve activity, change in blood perfusion, etc.) adjacent to the monitoring site.

In aspects, such tone measurement may be useful in determining the local stiffness of tissues (and/or overall wall stiffness of an adjacent vessel, organ, etc.) in contact with a sensing tip array (e.g. so as to determine the type of tissue adjacent to one or more sensing tips, locate plaque, locate a cancerous tumor, etc.). Tone measurement may further be used to characterize the type of tissue with which the tip is interfacing (e.g. muscle, nervous tissue, fat, plaque, cancerous tissue, etc.). In aspects, such information, possibly in combination with bioimpedance data, electrophysiological monitoring, or the like, may be used to determine how much RF energy to apply locally during an RF ablation procedure.

In one non-limiting example of a method for RF ablating tissue, the local tissue tone may be measured before, during, between individual RF pulses, and/or after a train of RF pulses. As the local tissue tone changes during application of the RF pulses, the tonal changes may be used to determine the extent of the therapy. As the RF ablation process is applied to the adjacent tissues (perhaps via one or more sensing tips), the tonal measurements (as determined by one or more sensing tips, perhaps the same tip through which the RF signal may be applied) may be monitored as the tonal measurements may not be significantly affected by the local RF currents.

In aspects, electrophysiological stimulation and/or sensing from one or more sensing tips in a sensing tip array, or a system in accordance with the present disclosure may be used to interface with, monitor and/or stimulate nervous function within a local anatomical structure (e.g. a lumen wall, a vessel wall, along a nerve, an organ wall, a duct, etc.). Such information may be used to hunt for target tissues (e.g. nerves), select tissues for a surgical procedure, to determine the degree of progression of a surgical procedure (e.g. a degree of ablation during RF surgery, etc.).

In aspects, an array of sensing tips may be configured to apply a directional stimulation and/or multi-site sensing so as to selectively treat/monitor only nerves that are configured to send signals in the preferred direction (e.g. to selectively target primarily efferent nerve bundles, afferent nerve bundles, etc.). Such a configuration may be advantageous for treating a neurological disorder with minimal impact to the surrounding anatomy and physiologic function of the associated organs.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure may include the capability to apply/receive an RF current to/from the surrounding tissue. The RF current may be provided locally between two of more sensing tips, or alternatively between one or more sensing tips and a macroelectrode placed elsewhere on the body (e.g. on a large skin patch over the surgical site, as selected from multiple patches placed over the body, etc.). In a non-limiting example where current is restricted to being applied between sensing tips, the path for current flow may be well controlled, yet may be highly localized. Alternatively, in an example where RF current is passed between one or more sensing tips and one or more macroelectrodes, the direction of current flow may be more challenging to control, but may be used to access tissues more remote from the sensing tips (i.e. farther into the adjacent tissues, deeper into an organ, farther from a lumen wall, etc.).

In aspects, network impedance measurements between one or more sensing tips and one or more macroelectrodes (e.g. as attached to the body of the patient), may be monitored prior to and/or during application of an RF ablation current. Each sensing tip and/or macroelectrode may include an impedance control circuit that may be adjustable such that the overall current flow through the network formed from all the elements is controlled there through. Such a configuration may be advantageous to more precisely control the local ablation process, thus targeting the local tissues with more accuracy, precision, spatial discrimination, and confidence than less controlled approaches.

In another non-limiting example, a plurality of sensing tips may be engaged with the flow of RF current during an ablation process. In aspects, the local impedance of each microfinger and/or sensing tip may be monitored and/or controlled so as to better optimize the current delivered thereto. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, the local current flow through each sensing tip may be monitored so as to determine the path of the RF current flow, to ensure no leakage currents are detected, etc. Such information may be used to more precisely control the delivery of RF currents to the local anatomy during an ablation procedure.

Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, before, during and/or after the RF current is applied to the surrounding tissues, one or more sensing tips may monitor a physiologic parameter (e.g. water concentration, tone, blood oxygen saturation of local tissues, evoked potential, electrolyte or solute concentration, stimulation/sensing of nervous activity, local field potential, extracellular activity, EMG, temperature, etc.) to determine the extent of completion of the intended surgical procedure.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips may include an optical microsensor (e.g. a micropackage including a light source and/or a CMOS photosensor) and/or a fiber optic element. During a surgical procedure, the optical microsensor may be positioned against or near to the local tissues for analysis before, during and/or after an ablation procedure.

In aspects, an optically configured sensing tip (or group of tips) may be configured to locally assess blood perfusion and/or blood oxygenation in the tissues adjacent thereto. The system may be configured to automatically adjust and/or halt the surgical procedure based upon changes in this signal. Alternatively, additionally, or in combination, the system may alert a user (e.g. a surgeon, an attendant, etc.) to a change in this signal before, during, and/or after a surgical procedure. Such a configuration may be useful for assessing local tissue health before, during, and/or after a surgical procedure, the extent of a surgical procedure, etc.

In another non-limiting example, one or more optically configured sensing tips may be configured so as to be biased towards the tissues of a lumen, a vessel, or the like in the vicinity of the surgical site. The optical sensing tips may include one or more light sources (e.g. light emitting diodes, fiber optic tips, etc.) configured to deliver narrow, multiband, and/or wideband light to the adjacent tissues. In aspects, one or more of the optical sensing tips may include one or more photodetectors (e.g. a photodetector, a phototransistor, a fiber optic tip, etc.) to receive and/or analyze the light reflected from the adjacent tissues. The received light may be related to that emitted by one or more of the light sources, or may be received from an ambient light source, perhaps located to the exterior of the vessel, or the exterior of the subject's body.

The sources may be configured to emit light at predetermined wavelengths such that different absorption characteristics of the adjacent tissues, perhaps dependent on the wavelengths, may be observed during the surgical procedure. The photodetectors may be configured to receive at least a portion of this light, so as to assess the absorption characteristics with the system (perhaps via a pre-amplification system in accordance with the present disclosure, in an attached electronics unit, etc.). The photodetected signals may be used to determine an oximetry value or a signal related thereto.

In one non-limiting example, the optically configured sensing tips may be biased towards a site on the vessel wall before, during, and/or after the surgical procedure. Alternatively or in combination, the optically configured sensing tips may be substantially stationary with respect to the vessel wall (such as via being attached to a collar of known size, attached to a structure of known width, as part of a structure that is expanded to a known radius, etc.). In aspects, the magnitude of the bias may be controlled by sensors and actuators both accordance with the present disclosure. Changes in the optical signals detected by the photodetectors (perhaps due to changing bias force) before, during and/or after a surgical procedure may be related to changes in the bias force with which they are held against the vessel wall. Such a configuration may be advantageous for determining a change in sympathetic tone and/or vasodilation before, during and/or after a surgical procedure.

In one non-limiting example, the optically configured sensing tips may be coupled with one or more strain and/or interfacial force measurement methods, perhaps to give a more precise reading of the bias force between the sensing tip(s) and the adjacent tissues, to compensate for movement related artifacts, or the like.

In aspects, one or more of the optical sources may be selected such that the penetration of the light into the adjacent tissues may be controlled. In one non-limiting example, a blue wavelength and a red wavelength may be emitted into the tissues. The blue wavelength may provide information relating to the deformation and absorption near to the surface of the tissues, while the red wavelength may penetrate more deeply into the adjacent tissues, providing a signal that changes in response to deformation of tissues farther from the contact site(s) between the tip(s) and the tissue. The photodetectors or equivalent optical detection pathway may include filters, polarized windows, or the like to separately assess the different spectra during an analysis. Comparison between photodetected signals in the blue spectrum with those obtained from the red spectrum may be used to determine tone and/or elastic modulus of the tissues of the vessel in the vicinity of the sensing tip(s). Such a configuration may be advantageous for assessing sympathetic tone (i.e. via muscular tension measurement), and/or vasodilation, vessel wall stiffness, and/or local tissue stiffness before, during and/or after a surgical procedure. Changes in such properties may be indicative of the degree of completion of the surgical procedure.

In aspects, an externally placed (e.g. onto the body of the subject) light source (e.g. infrared, near infrared, visible, etc.) may be directed into the body towards the surgical site. The light source may optionally be modulated to provide a more easily detected signal within the subject. One or more sensing tips equipped with optical microsensors may sense light emitted from the light source. The mapping of received light may be used to locate and/or localize one or more anatomical features such as nerves near to one or more of the optical microsensor equipped sensing tips.

In aspects, one or more externally placed light sources may be used to help locate the anatomical sites of interest during the procedure. An external light source may include a narrow band light source, a broad band light source, light sources spaced apart from each other, and/or combinations thereof. The light sources may be modulated so as to be more easily detectable by sensors located on, in, or near to the anatomy of interest. In one non-limiting example, a plurality of light sources may be aimed at the surgical site from distinct vantage points within the body (i.e. as accessed via an endoscopic procedure, etc.) or externally to the body (i.e. as positioned at locations on the body).

In another non-limiting example an endoscopic camera may be placed near to the anatomy, lumen wall, and/or surgical site during a procedure to observe both the anatomy, as well as placement of the surgical tools in the vicinity of the anatomy. In one non-limiting example, the endoscopic camera and/or light source may provide a suitable macroelectrode for RF ablation processes performed during the surgical procedure.

In another non-limiting example, one or more sensing tips may be equipped with a corresponding micro-light source (e.g. an oLED, an LED, etc.). The micro-light source may be used to direct light into the adjacent tissues. One or more sensing tips equipped with optical microsensors may be configured to detect light emitted from the micro-light source as back scattered by the adjacent tissues. Such information may be used to detect anatomical features (e.g. nerves, tumors, etc.) in the adjacent tissues.

Such optical configurations may be advantageous for mapping the local tissues before, during and/or after a surgical procedure. They may also be advantageous for implementation into a nerve detection system (e.g. perhaps as input to a nerve hunting algorithm, etc.).

In one non-limiting example, the system may include a micro balloon catheter for placement into a vessel (e.g. a renal artery, etc.). The micro balloon catheter may be coated with a thin layer of an indicator molecule. The indicator molecule may be tagged to attach to the target tissue of interest and/or tagged so as to change chromatic properties when bound to the target tissue (e.g. nervous tissue, etc.). The molecules may be delivered to the desired tissues during a balloon catheterization procedure. During such a procedure, the micro balloon catheter may be placed into the vessel of interest and inflated so as to kiss the walls of the vessel. While in contact with the vessel walls, the indicator molecules may attach and migrate/diffuse into the local tissues. Such a procedure may be performed as a first surgical step or as combined with other aspects in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the balloon may also be configured to deliver a therapeutic agent (i.e. a neuroblocking agent, ethyl alcohol, botulinum toxin, etc.) to the anatomy of interest.

In a method in accordance with the present disclosure, one or more sensing tips are inserted into a lumen with a wall within a body and biased towards the wall of the lumen, and one or more electrophysiological signals obtained therefrom. The electrophysiological signals may be analyzed to locate one or more target tissues for a surgical procedure (i.e. one or more sympathetic nerves, parasympathetic nerves, etc.). A bolus of therapeutic agent, an RF current, a thermal energy source, and/or the like may be delivered to the identified tissues so as to perform the surgical procedure thereupon. In aspects, one or more post-procedural electrophysiological signals may be analyzed to determine the extent of the surgical procedure.

In aspects, the therapeutic agent may be provided via a micro balloon catheter in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the therapeutic agent may be delivered via one or more microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, the micro balloon catheter may include one or more sensory tips (e.g. in the form of functional elements attached to the balloon, attached to a superstructure surrounding the balloon, etc.) in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, the bioimpedance and/or electrophysiological signals between one or more sensing tips in the array and one or more sensing tips in the array, an external electrode, a reference electrode, or the like may be used to determine changes in the structure of the adjacent tissues during an ablation procedure. Such information may be useful in determining the extent of the ablation procedure, char accumulation, etc.

In aspects, bioimpedance measurements may be correlated with nerve damage data, perhaps obtained during prior surgeries, development of the procedure, and/or obtained during specific testing procedures, such that changes in local bioimpedance data may be used during a surgical procedure to determine the extent of the ablation procedure. Such a configuration may be advantageous in the case that the surgical procedure itself overwhelms the local electrophysiological activity to the extent that neurological monitoring may be hindered for a prolonged period of time after the procedure has been completed.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips may be configured to monitor local electrical fields during an ablation procedure in accordance with the present disclosure in order to better determine the current flow path through the adjacent anatomy, perhaps connected to a warning system to indicate to an operator when the ablation field is insufficient for achieving the intended goal. Such a configuration may be advantageous for avoiding unnecessary damage to the tissues during a misfired or misdirected ablation session.

In aspects, a system in accordance with the present disclosure may include a micro balloon catheter including one or more sensory tips (e.g. in the form of functional elements attached to the balloon, attached to a superstructure surrounding the balloon, etc.). The micro balloon catheter may be configured so as to bias the sensory tips against the adjacent vessel walls, thus providing a reliable interface from which selective ablation and detection processes may be performed. Such a micro balloon catheter may be advantageous for single placement type surgical procedures in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects including a plurality of sensing tips (e.g. as placed onto a micro balloon catheter, a microfinger array, a microtool set, a flexible cage assembly, etc.) the sensing tips may be interconnected with each other, with signal processing circuitry, a local control circuit, and the like and/or combinations thereof. In order to substantially reduce the number of signal wires that must be sent to the surgical site during the procedure, the networked array of sensing tips may be multiplexed together with a locally placed control circuit (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit, distributed/interconnected circuit elements, a collection of flexible semiconducting circuit elements, etc.). The control circuit may be configured to communicate such signals with an extracorporeal system (e.g. a computer, a control system, an RF ablation controller, a data acquisition system, etc.). The control circuit may be configured to communicate with the extracorporeal system via analog and/or digital means and/or methods. In one non-limiting example, the communication may be of primarily digital means such that the control circuit may exchange data pertaining to any sensing tip in the array, as well as switch data, control data, RF pulse routing, etc.

In another non-limiting example, the networked array of sensing tips may be interconnected with distributed electronic elements and flexible electrical interconnects (e.g. as applied to a balloon wall, as provided by structural wires, microfingers, wire mesh elements, etc.). In aspects, one or more of the sensing tips, microfingers, or the like may be included upon a flexible or stretchable electronic substrate, the electronic substrate configured to interface the sensing tips with the anatomy as well as to electrically connect one or more sensing tips, or the like with a controller, a control system, an operator, a graphical user interface, a display, or the like.

A controlled nerve ablation system in accordance with the present disclosure may include one or more microfingers.

To this effect, a microfinger array microsurgical tool is disclosed herein. Any element in the microfinger array may include a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure to interact with the local anatomy during a surgical procedure.

The microfinger array may be advantageous for accessing very small anatomical sites within a body, perhaps through tortuous vessels, deep into an organ, etc.

A microfinger array may be arranged in a surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure such that one or more of the microfingers may substantially independently interface with the adjacent tissues. Thus if an array of microfingers is placed against a rough or otherwise uncontrolled surface, each microfinger may be able to contact, maintain a controlled bias force against, substantially embed an associated sensing tip into, and/or substantially maintain contact with the surface during use, even if the microfinger array is dragged along the surface as part of a procedure, during movement of the surface, etc. Such independently adjustable microfingers may be advantageous so as to maintain a known interfacial pressure, especially while monitoring, stimulating and/or ablating the tissue with the microfingers. Such independently adjustable microfingers may be advantageous to substantially embed an associated tip (i.e. an associated sensory tip) into an adjacent tissue during a procedure.

By microfinger is meant a substantially curved finger like member (i.e. with curvature at one or more points along the length thereof, with multi-axial curvature, etc.). Such microfingers may generally have a characteristic width (although may be of any cross sectional makeup). The microfingers may generally have characteristic widths on the order of approximately 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.01 mm, or the like. In one non-limiting example, one or more microfingers may include a Nitinol structure (e.g. a wire, a ribbon, etc.) with characteristic width of approximately 50 um.

In aspects, one or more regions of a microfinger in accordance with the present disclosure may be selectively coated with an isolation layer (e.g. an oxide layer, a dielectric coating, a polymer layer, a lubricious layer, etc.). In aspects, such an isolation layer may be selectively applied to regions of the microfingers (i.e. so as to create isolated regions and sensitive regions thereof).

In aspects, the microfingers may be configured so as to deploy and/or bias against one or more adjacent tissues during a procedure and may be used to contact ably sweep the local anatomy, for purposes of sensing and/or ablating during a surgical procedure. In aspects, one or more microfinger dimensions and structure may be designed so as to provide substantially uniform and predictable bias forces on the adjacent tissues over a wide range of movements and dimensional variation.

In aspects, an array of microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured so as to sufficiently collapse down into a delivery catheter while expanding radially outwards upon deployment so as to form a controllably biased contact within a tubular anatomical structure (e.g. an artery, a vein, an intestinal wall, etc.).

In aspects, one or more microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure may be configured into the shape of a wire basket, a mesh-like structure, or the like. In aspects, one or more regions of such microfingers may be patterned with an isolation layer, so as to direct signals over the microfingers, towards associated sensing tips, to provide communication between associated sensing tips and control electronics, to control one or more mechanical properties thereof, or the like.

Such a configuration may be advantageous for accessing tight anatomical spaces of interest (e.g. small vessel walls), while also maintaining consistent contact forces at a surgical site during a procedure, substantially embedding one or more sensory tips into a lumen wall, substantially isolating one or more sensing tips from an adjacent fluid, or the like.

In aspects, a microfinger array in accordance with the present disclosure may include a plurality of fingers, one or more such fingers configured to interface with the surrounding tissues and biased radially outwards from a deployment site (e.g. a guide wire, a catheter, etc.). In aspects, the microfinger array may be deployed via longitudinal retraction of a restraining shell (i.e. a restraining layer in the catheter), via application of heat or current (i.e. in the case of a shape memory microfinger, etc.), via projection of the microfinger array out of a delivery catheter (i.e. by advancing the microfinger array beyond the tip of the delivery catheter, etc.).

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include a spring-like wire element (e.g. Nitinol, spring steel, etc.) and/or may include composite structures including a spring-like element to provide a bias force so as to push the tip and/or one or more regions of the microfinger towards the wall of a vessel into which it is placed (i.e. towards a surface, a lumen wall, a vessel wall, etc.).

In aspects, a microfinger may include a Nitinol structure, optionally configured for passage of current flow, to and from the surrounding tissues, and/or communication of electrophysiological information between an associated sensing tip and a connected microcircuit. In aspects, the Nitinol structure may be configured such that, when an RF pulse is applied there through towards the surrounding tissues, the Nitinol structure may retreat from the tissues after a predetermined amount of energy has passed there through, upon reaching a predetermined temperature, or the like. Thus the Nitinol structure may provide an inherently controlled method for applying a quantum of RF energy to the surrounding tissues. Such a configuration may be adapted for use simultaneously, additionally, alternatively and/or in combination with one or more of the other aspects described in this disclosure.

In aspects, each finger in the array may move somewhat independently of the others such that all fingers may maintain contact with the vessel wall during a procedure.

Such a configuration may be advantageous for maintaining robust contact with the walls of a tortuous anatomical site (e.g. a plaque filled artery, a tortuous vein, a damaged vessel, etc.) within the body. Such a configuration may be advantageous for maintaining robust contact with the walls of a lumen, surgical site, etc. while performing a procedure (i.e. scanning a surface with one or more microfingers, dragging a microfinger along a surface, monitoring a tissue site, ablating a tissue site, etc.) or during periods of relative movement (i.e. in the presence of organ movement, perhaps due to physiologic processes, stresses related to biorhythms, breathing, blood pressure, etc.).

In aspects, at least a portion of the microfingers may be formed as spirals such that torsion applied at the operator end of the catheter may rotate the microfingers about the central axis of the lumen (i.e. blood vessel, etc.), thus allowing one to sweep the contact of the microfingers around the entirety of the vessel interior. Such movements may be advantageous for analyzing the adjacent tissues, selectively mapping and ablating the tissues, etc. In one non-limiting example, a microfinger array in accordance with the present disclosure may be swept circumferentially along the wall of a vessel, optionally starting and stopping so as to analyze the local tissues. If a suitable site for ablation is detected, the microfinger array may be used to ablate the tissues as well as monitor the ablation process to ensure controlled ablation is achieved before continuing with the sweeping procedure.

In aspects, the microfingers may be formed slightly off axis, such that relative axial movement of an overlying sheath may be used to retract the microfingers into the sheath or conversely to deploy them towards the anatomical site. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, off axis arrangements may provide the capability to sweep the microfingers circumferentially along the anatomical site via applying torsion to the guide wire, delivery wire, and/or catheter to which they are attached.

Such a configuration may be advantageous for simultaneously mapping and selectively ablating an anatomical site during a surgical procedure.

Furthermore, such a configuration may be advantageous for working upon an anatomical site, while maintaining flow of fluid there through (i.e. as opposed to an occlusive tool, which may block flow during expansion thereof).

In aspects, one or more microfingers may be provided with highly miniaturized and flexible structure so as to more easily access highly restricted anatomical sites within the body.

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure for capturing information from the local surgical site. Some non-limiting examples of sensing options include temperature sensors, electrodes, strain gauges, contact force sensors, combinations thereof, and the like. For purposes of discussion, a sensing tip may also be referred to as a microsensor.

The sensing tips may be configured to elucidate a range of key information during a procedure. Some non-limiting examples are discussed in more detail below.

Bioimpedance between one or more microfinger tips may be used to determine the degree of contact between the finger tips and the anatomical site, as well as potentially the bias force between the finger tips and the anatomical site. Such information may be useful in determining when adequate contact and to gauge how much current should be applied to an anatomical site during an ablation procedure.

Mechanomyographic information may be obtained from fingertips during a procedure as determined by slight changes in an associated strain measurement and/or contact force measurement (e.g. via direct force measurement between the tip and the local anatomy, and/or via changes in the deformation of the microfinger as measured by an associated micro strain gage attached thereupon).

Evoked potential monitoring at or between one or more finger tips, may be used to map nervous response, electromyographic response, extracellular potentials, local field potentials, evoked potential, etc. along the wall of the local anatomy (e.g. vessel wall, organ wall, etc.). Such information may be advantageous for selecting tissues on which to perform a surgical procedure (e.g. an ablation procedure, a biopsy, a stimulation procedure, etc.).

The tone of the adjacent tissues may be determined by combining strain and/or force measurement of the microfingers while applying an excitation to one or more microfingers (e.g. optionally clockwise torsion to advance the microfingers and small counterclockwise torsion to measure the tone of adjacent tissues, a vibratory exciter in combination with contact and/or microfinger strain measurement, etc.).

Such tone measurement may be useful in determining the local stiffness of tissues in contact with the microfinger array (e.g. so as to determine the type of tissue adjacent to one or more microfingers, to locate plaque, to locate a cancerous tumor, etc.).

Stimulation and sensing from one or more microfingers in the microfinger array may be used to elicit nervous function of local anatomy. Such information may be used to select tissues for a surgical procedure, to determine the degree of progression of a surgical procedure (e.g. a degree of ablation during RF surgery, etc.). Directional stimulation and sensing may be used to selectively treat only nerves that are configured to send signals in the preferred direction (i.e. via combination of stimulation and/or sensing from a plurality of sensing tips, sensing sites, etc.).

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include the capability to apply/receive an RF current to/from the surrounding tissue.

Such RF currents may be applied between one microfinger in the array and an (optionally) distant counter electrode, between two or more microfingers in the array, to a extracorporeal patch on the body, etc.

In aspects pertaining to multiple microfinger RF current passage, the local impedance of each microfinger may be altered so as to control the current delivered thereto.

In aspects pertaining to multiple microfinger RF current passage, the local current flow through each microfinger may be monitored so as to determine the path of the RF current flow, to ensure no leakage currents are detected, etc. Such information may be used to more precisely control the delivery of RF currents to the local anatomy during an ablation procedure.

In aspects, prior to, during, and/or after the RF current is applied to the surrounding tissues, one or more microfingers may be configured to monitor a physiologic parameter (e.g. water concentration, tone, blood oxygen saturation of local tissues, evoked potential, stimulation/sensing of nervous activity, emg, temperature, etc.) to determine the extent of completion of the intended surgical procedure.

In aspects, the bioimpedance between one or more microfingers in the array may be used to determine changes in the structure of the adjacent tissues during an ablation procedure. Such information may be useful in determining the extent of the ablation procedure, char accumulation, etc.

In aspects, bioimpedance measurements may be correlated with nerve damage data, perhaps obtained during prior surgeries or obtained during specific testing procedures, such that changes in local bioimpedance data may be used during a surgical procedure to determine the extent of the procedure. Such a configuration may be advantageous in the case that the surgical procedure itself overwhelms the local electrophysiological activity to the extent that neurological monitoring may be hindered for a prolonged period of time after the procedure has been completed.

In aspects, one or more microfingers may be configured to monitor local electrical fields during an ablation procedure in order to better determine the current flow path through the adjacent anatomy, perhaps connected to a warning system to indicate to an operator when the ablation field is insufficient for achieving the intended goal, to assist with the direction of energy towards the intended surgical site, to conserve energy, etc. Such a configuration may be advantageous for avoiding unnecessary damage to the tissues during a misfired ablation session.

A system may include an embolic net to capture char that may form during the ablation procedure. Such netting may be advantageous for preventing surgically related emboli from traveling throughout the body after the surgery.

In aspects, the system and/or microfingers may include a coolant delivery system (e.g. a saline delivery system) in order to cool the microfingers during and/or after an ablation procedure. Such coolant delivery may be advantageous for minimizing char and excessive damage associated with an ablation procedure. Such coolant delivery may be part of a cryogenic surgical procedure, or the like.

In aspects, the system may include multiple microfinger arrays, perhaps located at specific radii from each other such that when sweeping a tubular anatomical site (e.g. a vessel), the bias forces may be reasonably maintained between the microfingers and the tissue walls.

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include an exposed electrode area (i.e. as part of an electrode based sensing tip) that only touches the walls of the adjacent anatomy. Such a configuration may be advantageous for minimizing current flow into the adjacent fluids within the vessel, to better control RF current flow in the vicinity of the electrodes, minimize conductivity between the exposed area and the surrounding fluid, so as to substantially embed the exposed electrode area in to the wall of the adjacent anatomy, etc.

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include one or more active material elements. Control signals delivered to the active material element may help to bias the microfingers towards the intended surgical site, actively control the contact forces between finger tips and the surgical sites, etc. Some non-limiting examples of active materials that may be suitable for application to one or more microfingers include shape memory materials (e.g. shape memory alloys, polymers, combination thereof), electroactive polymers (e.g. conjugated polymers, dielectric elastomers, piezoelectric polymers, electrets, liquid crystals, graft elastomers, etc.), piezoceramics (e.g. amorphous piezoceramics, single crystals, composites, etc.). In addition the active material may be used as a vibratory exciter and/or mechanical probe, for use in monitoring the tone of the adjacent tissues (see above), alternatively, in addition or in combination, to cause vibratory/ultrasonic ablation and/or local heating to the tissues. In such aspects, the active material may be included along the length and/or over a region of the microfinger (i.e. so as to influence the shape of the microfinger during contraction or expansion of the active material).

In aspects, one or more microfingers may include an electrical shield such that the microfinger tips are effectively shielded from other currents flowing through an associated catheter, the body, etc. during a procedure.

In aspects, one or more elements of a microfinger based catheter may include a bidirection switching network, micro amplifier array, a sensory front end, combinations thereof, or the like in order to amplify sensed signals as close as possible to the anatomical interface, to switch the function of a microfinger tip between sensory, stimulatory, and/or ablative functions, perform combinations thereof, or the like. In aspects, the circuitry may be included in the delivery wire within the catheter of the system. In such aspects, the circuitry may be coupled to one or more microfingers and/or sensing tips each in accordance with the present disclosure, and a secondary signal acquisition circuit, a digital communication block, a controller, an RF signal generator, combinations thereof, and the like.

In aspects, a bidirectional switching network may be used to enable bifunctional stimulation/sense capabilities in one or more microfingers, etc. The switching network may be included in a local amplifier array, as a flexible circuit, or silicon die interconnected to or placed upon one or more microfingers, etc. Alternatively, additionally, or in combination, an extracorporeal circuit element may be coupled to the switching network and/or microfingers, sensing tips, etc. and to a controller included within a surgical system including a microfinger array in accordance with the present disclosure.

In aspects, a micro amplifier array may be used to preamplify the signals obtained from one or more sensory aspects of the microfingers, so as to improve the noise signature, etc. during use. The microamplifier may be coupled to the catheter, embedded into the catheter, embedded into one or more microfingers, etc.

In aspects, one or more microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure may be provided such that they are sufficiently flexible so as to buckle, or change orientation during back travel, so as to prevent puncture of the local anatomy. A configuration as outlined in this non-limiting example may be advantageous for providing contact with the local anatomy without significant risk of damaging the adjacent anatomy (e.g. puncturing a vessel wall, etc) which may be a concern with stiffer, more traditional structures. Such microfingers may include a characteristic width of less than 200 um, less than 100 um, less than 50 um, less than 25 um, less than 10 um.

In aspects, one or more microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure may include a substantially hyper elastic material (e.g. formed from a memory alloy material, a superelastic material, a spring steel, etc.) so as to effectively deploy from a very small deployment tube/catheter and expand outward to accommodate a large range of vessel diameters. Such a configuration may be advantageous in so far as a small number of unit sizes may be suitable for treating a wide range of anatomical structures. In addition, the designed curvature and form of a microfinger may be substantially chosen so as to further enable a wide deployable range of movement.

A surgical tool including a plurality of microfinger arrays (i.e. clusters of microfingers, fans of microfingers, etc.) may be employed so as to determine physiological response more remotely from an intended surgical site than may be available within a single array. Aspects of the disclosed concepts may be employed along the same lines by extending interactions between microfingers within an array, to inter-array interactions. In aspects, a surgical tool including a plurality of clustered microfinger arrays may be advantageous to analyze one or more anatomical sites simultaneously from a plurality of sites (macroscopically separated sites). In one non-limiting example, two microfinger arrays may be arranged along a catheter based surgical tool, so as to interface with the walls of a lumen, at two or more longitudinally separated distances. Physiological sensing from multiple microfingers may be advantageous for determining the extent of neurological traffic between the plurality of sites, determine the direction of traffic, determine if traffic from one direction or the other is blocked (i.e. after a surgical procedure, after RF current application, after a denervation procedure, etc.). Such configurations and methods for determining the state of a plurality of anatomical sites is further disclosed throughout the text and appended figures of this disclosure.

In aspects, a system in accordance with the present disclosure may be used to monitor physiological activity associated with a surgical site prior to, during and/or after a surgical procedure is applied thereto. Some suitable examples of surgical procedures include an RF ablation, Argon plasma coagulation, laser ablation, ultrasonic ablation, cryoablation, microwave ablation, abrasion, biopsy, delivery of a substance (e.g. a chemical, a drug substance, an acid, a base, etc.), combinations thereof, and the like. The local physiological activity (e.g. nervous activity, blood perfusion, tonal changes, muscular sympathetic nerve activity, etc.) may be monitored with one more sensors (sensing tips, microfingers, etc.) and/or associated stimulators each in accordance with the present disclosure. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, a technique for assessing one or more physiologic properties and/or states of an associated surgical site may be employed. Such techniques include assessing values and/or trends in bioimpedance, blood pressure, tissue oxygenation, tissue carbon dioxide levels, local temperatures and changes thereof, and the like.

In aspects, the system may include a substrate onto which the sensing tips may be placed. Such a substrate may be formed from a balloon wall, a mesh, an interwoven ribbon array, a cloth, etc. The substrate may include stretchable and/or flexible electronic materials.

Electrical interconnects may be formed from carbon nanotubes (e.g. SWNTs, MWNTs, etc.), nanowires, metallic wires, composites, conductive inks, and the like.

In aspects, a portion, or all of the substrate and/or an associated substrate carrier film may be formed from polyurethane, a silicone, a general elastomer, silk fibroin materials, or the like and/or combinations thereof. Inclusion of microporous or fibrous substrates, may be advantageous to allow the substrate or substrate carrier film to adhere to the adjacent tissues via capillary effects (i.e. tendencies to wick fluid from adjacent tissues into the substrate). The thickness of films formed from the material may be less than 30 um thick, less than 20 um, less than 10 um, less than 4 um, less than 1 um. Composites of somewhat stiffer materials (such as polyimide, PET, PEN, etc.) and somewhat softer materials (e.g. silicones, polyurethanes, thermoplastic elastomers, etc.) may be used to compromise between overall structural stiffness and conformal capabilities of the substrate.

In aspects, patterned overcoats and/or composite layers may also be used to expose electrode materials and/or sensing tips to the surrounding tissues in the vicinity of measurement regions, etc.

In one non-limiting example, the substrate may be at least partially formed from a silk material (e.g.Bombyx moricocoons). The material may be processed to remove sericin (which may cause undesirable immunological response) using methods known in the art. The resulting material can be solvent cast into shapes and crystallized to form self-supporting structures.

In aspects, adaptive temperature estimation may be used to better control the RF process. Such techniques may be supported by use of a surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure, including one or more sensing tips configured with temperature and/or bioimpedance monitoring aspects. Modeling of changes in local bioimpedance may be related to local temperature changes during the ablation process. Such measurements as well as local thermoconductive properties, tissue thermoconduction, etc. may also influence the rates at which a local ablation process may take place (i.e. as related to a thermal ablation process).

In aspects, a system in accordance with the present disclosure may include one or more microsensors for monitoring nervous activity and/or related physiological activity during the RF ablation process. Some examples of suitable monitoring techniques include electromyography (EMG), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), mechanomyography (MMG), phonomyography (PMG), extracellular potentials, local field potentials, combinations thereof, and the like. Mechanomyography (MMG) measures the force created by local muscle contractions caused by associated neural activity. Phonomyography (PMG) measures low frequency sounds associated with movement generated by associated neural activity. Traditionally, techniques such as MMG and PMG have been employed on externally accessible nervous and muscular tissues. One advantage of such techniques is that they may not be as easily affected by local electrical noise as EMG and the effects of the nervous activity may be generally sensed farther from the associated nerve than with electromyographic techniques.

Alternatively, additionally or in combination the ascribed sensing techniques may be combined with stimulation from local sources in accordance with the present disclosure. Such stimulation and sensing may be advantageous in determining functionality of local nerves without the need to listen to complex biologically generated nervous activity. Furthermore, combined stimulation and sensing may be advantageous for determining functionality of a local nerve in real-time during a denervation and/or ablation procedure (e.g. the successive stimulation and sensing may be used to determine the degree of neurological block and/or neuromuscular block there between). In aspects, such functionality as well as directionality of the nerve signal propagation (e.g. efferent, afferent, etc.) may be more easily determined through use of combined local stimulation and sensing.

In aspects, one or more patterns of nerve stimulation may be used to determine the function of the local nerve structures as well as one or more aspects of neurological block and/or neuromuscular block that may be caused by the surgical procedure (e.g. ablation), anesthesia, heating, chemical delivery, a related condition, etc.

In aspects, a single stimulation may be applied to elicit maximal response from the associated nerve at frequencies of less than 10 Hz, less than 1 Hz, less than 0.1 Hz. The downstream response as measured by any of the described techniques will depend on the frequency with which the stimuli are applied. In aspects, in order to allow for complete recovery of the nerve between stimulations, a frequency of less than or equal to 0.1 Hz may be advantageous.

During RF ablation of an associated nervous structure, the evoked electrical and/or muscular responses may be dramatically affected. Such changes in the response may be useful in determining the state of the denervation procedure. Thus they may be advantageous to determine the exact degree of RF energy that must be applied to a given structure in order to cause sufficient denervation as desired by a surgical procedure. Such an approach may be advantageous to limit damage to surrounding tissues caused by the denervation procedure, to ensure suitable denervation has been achieved, to determine which nerves are affected by the procedure, to control the extent of a denervation procedure, etc.

Another technique for stimulation and sensing of the nervous response includes applying a rapid succession of pulses followed by a period of inactivity. Pulse trains may be used to gradually force a nerve into a blocked state. The rate at which a nerve enters a blocked state and later recovers therefrom may be a suitable indicator of the overall health and functionality of the nerve (i.e. a suitable metric for determining how a procedure has affected that nerve).

In aspects, the sensing of the nervous response may not need to be local to a surgical site, but rather downstream (in the sense of the flow of an associated nervous signal) from the site. Such sensing of the nervous response may be advantageous for determining the progression of a particular form of communication past a surgical site (i.e. afferent, efferent traffic, etc.).

In aspects, various mapping techniques may be applied to the surgical site, before, optionally during and after a surgical procedure. Some mapping techniques as used in cardiac interventions include pace mapping, activation mapping, entrainment mapping, and substrate mapping. It may be feasible to adapt such techniques for use in the intended application. In general, these techniques may complement each other in localizing where amongst a surgical site to target the ablation procedure.

In one non-limiting example, the micro fingers and/or associated sensing tips may be arranged in a polar configuration as an array of arches (i.e. an array of thin, arch-like elements each extending radially outwards from a central axis). The arches may be attached at each end, a first end connected to an axially oriented draw wire and the other end attached to a collar. The arches may be collapsed and/or expanded radially by extending and/or retracting the length of the draw wire between the first end and the collar respectively. The draw wire may extend through the surgical tool to the operator or a machine, where force on the draw wire may be used to achieve this function. Thus the arches may be provided in a substantially collapsed state (i.e. with small overall diameter) for easy delivery to the surgical site. Upon delivery to the surgical site, the draw wire may be retracted, perhaps automatically and/or with the help of an operator and the arches may be extended radially outwards, so as to contact the adjacent tissues of the vessel. Such a procedure may be used to bias the array of sensing tips and/or micro fingers towards the walls of the vessel while maintaining blood flow there through.

Alternatively, additionally, or in combination the arches may be deployed at a surgical site by removal of a restraining sheath (perhaps by retraction), by dissolution of a restraining element (e.g. an adhesive, an electrochemically destructible member, etc.), via thermal self-expansion of one or more elements of the arches, by combinations thereof, or the like.

Additionally, or in combination to the aspects described herein, the surgical system may be configured to monitor one or more physiologic parameters at one or more locations in the body remote from the surgical site. Some non-limiting examples of what may be monitored include water concentration, tone, blood oxygen saturation of local tissues, evoked potential, electrolyte or solute concentration, stimulation/sensing of nervous activity, electromyography, temperature, blood pressure, vasodilation, vessel wall stiffness, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), central sympathetic drive (e.g. bursts per minute, bursts per heartbeat, etc.), tissue tone, blood flow (e.g. through an artery, through a renal artery), a blood flow differential signal (e.g. a significantly abnormal and or sudden change in blood flow within a structure of the body, a vessel, an organ, etc.), blood perfusion (e.g. to an organ, an eye, etc.), a blood analyte level (e.g. a hormone concentration, norepinephrine, catecholamine, renin, angiotensin II, an ion concentration, a water level, an oxygen level, etc.), nerve traffic (e.g. post ganglionic nerve traffic in the peroneal nerve, celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, aorticorenal ganglion, renal ganglion, and/or related nervous system structures), combination thereof, and the like.

In aspects, a surgical system in accordance with the present disclosure may include one or more elements to monitor physiological activity and/or analyte levels (e.g. a hormone level), in and/or near to one or more portions of a gland, an endocrine gland (e.g. an adrenal gland, an adrenal medulla, etc.), etc.

In another non-limiting example, a multi catheter surgical system may be employed, each catheter in accordance with the present disclosure. In this non-limiting example, one or more first catheters may be used to probe and/or ablate tissues at a first surgical site (e.g. an artery, a renal artery, a left renal artery, etc.) while one or more second catheters may be configured to monitor one or more physiologic parameters elsewhere in the body (e.g. in an alternative artery, a vein, in an organ, at a lymph node, at a ganglion, etc.), perhaps to determine the effect of the surgical procedure there upon. In one non-limiting example, the catheters may be inserted into the same or closely positioned entry points into the body (e.g. the femoral artery, iliac artery, radial artery, femoral vein, etc.). Such a configuration may be advantageous for providing a minimally invasive surgical tool to perform the surgical procedure (e.g. a sympathectomy, a renal sympathectomy, etc.).

FIGS.1a-cshow a surgical tool tip in accordance with the present disclosure in a delivery mode and a deployed mode.FIG.1ashows a delivery catheter110with a micro surgical tool120held within (e.g. in a retracted position). The micro surgical tool120may include one or more microfingers125in accordance with the present disclosure for use in a surgical procedure (e.g. a denervation procedure, a biopsy, an excision procedure, etc.). The micro surgical tool120may be configured so as to reversibly collapse down into the delivery catheter110upon retraction. The microsurgical tool120and/or delivery catheter110may be connected115to a controller, a control unit (e.g. with a deployment control switch, etc.), an operator, a signal conditioning circuit, etc.

FIG.1bshows a deployed micro surgical tool120with a plurality of microfingers125a-c(i.e. in this case, 3 microfingers are shown). In aspects, the microsurgical tool120may include any reasonable number of microfingers125a-c. Each microfinger125a-cmay be generally spaced apart from the others such that if the array is biased towards a tissue site, they may form a pattern (e.g. a dotted line, a diamond, a ring, etc.). The microfingers125a-cmay be expand outward (e.g. radially, axially, circumferentially, and/or combinations thereof) in one or more directions when deployed from the associated delivery catheter120. Thus the microfingers125a-cmay suitably engage with a local tissue site be it to monitor the site, ablate the site, a combination thereof, or the like. One or more of the microfingers125a-cmay include one or more sensing tips130a-deach in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in this non-limiting example, each microfinger125a-cincludes a sensing tip130a-clocated, primarily at the end of the microfinger125a-c. In addition, one microfinger125cincludes another sensing tip130d(e.g. perhaps a temperature sensor, a reference electrode, a flow sensor, etc.) located near to the end of the microfinger125c. In aspects, a temperature sensor130din the flow may be advantageous to evaluate local flow changes (turbulence, micro heating, etc.) that may occur during an associated surgical process.

FIG.1cshows a deployed microtool135from a delivery catheter111, after being placed within a lumen within a body (i.e. a vessel, an artery, a vein, a tubule, etc.). The microtool135includes a plurality of microfingers140a-feach arranged radially around the axis of the lumen and biased agains the wall of the lumen11. In this non-limiting example, the microfingers140a-fare shown with electrode based sensing tips141a-f. The microfingers140a-fare also shown with curled tips, configured so as to minimize stresses applied to the lumen wall11during deployment. The electrode based sensing tips141a-fmay include one or more exposed electrically conducting regions (i.e. a metallic material, a conducting polymer, a conjugated polymer, a carbon material, combinations thereof, or the like) so as to interface electrically with the adjacent lumen wall11. In aspects, the microfingers140a-fmay be coated with an insulating layer in accordance with the present disclosure, so as to minimize fluid contact there along during a monitoring, stimulation, and/or ablation process applied therewith.

FIGS.2a-bshow deployed surgical microtools in accordance with the present disclosure interacting with a local surgical site.FIG.2ashows a cross section of a vessel located at a surgical site. The vessel includes a vessel wall12, which may have one or more anatomical features that are to be operated upon (i.e. nerves, tumor, plaque, etc.). An array of microfingers210in accordance with the present disclosure is shown interacting with the vessel wall12. For purposes of discussion, an associated delivery catheter215is also shown in within the vessel wall12. In the example shown, the microfinger array210may be swept along the vessel wall by counter clockwise rotation212about the delivery catheter215(or clockwise, depending on the preference of the operator, design of the catheter, etc.). Such motion may be provided by an operator (e.g. by torsion of the micro surgical tool shaft), by a mechanism within the tool, by a flexural structure of the microfinger array210(e.g. a helical structure so as to prefer rotational sweeping of the anatomy as the array is pulled through the vessel), combinations thereof or the like. The microfingers of the array210may include one or more sensing tips each in accordance with the present disclosure configured to interact with the lumen wall12. In one aspect, shown, one or more of the sensing tips may be configured to pass a current214locally between one or more of the sensing tips. Such current may be used to stimulate the local anatomy (i.e. as part of a stimulation/response monitoring system), or at higher intensities, as an RF source for ablation of local tissues (i.e. to perform a localized sympathectomy, etc.). In aspects, the microfinger array210may be configured to provide a combination of sensing and ablation (i.e. to perform a controlled sympathectomy procedure, to vary the degree transmission of local signals, to affect one or more local anatomical sites, one or more receptors, etc.).

FIG.2bshows a multi-array micro surgical tool including two arrays of microfingers220a-bsimultaneously interacting with substantially opposite sides of the vessel wall13. One microfinger array220bis shown ablating a local tissue site, thus forming an ablation zone222. A hypothetical RF ablation current pathway224is shown in the figure for purposes of discussion. The multi-array microsurgical tool may be rotated about the delivery catheter225, in this example, in a counter clockwise direction230with respect to the viewer. The microfingers220a-binclude one or more sensing tips226, in this case, the sensing tip226near the ablation site is configured to deliver current to and/or accept current from the local tissues. In a usage scenario, the sensing tips226, may be configured to monitor local electrophysiological activity in the lumen wall while the surgical tool is rotated about the delivery catheter225, when an anatomical site235of interest (i.e. a nerve plexus, a high traffic nerve plexus, a tumor, etc.) is detected, the ablation process may be initiated through select microfingers in the arrays220a-b. Current and/or sensing potentials may be provided between a first and one or more sensing tips226in the arrays220a-b, or between a sensing tip226and an external electrode (not explicitly shown), located in a direction237away from the lumen wall13.

FIG.2cshows a radially expanding micro surgical tool including an array of microfingers250a-f(not all elements numbered due to clutter), each microfinger configured to bias against the lumen wall14upon deployment from the delivery catheter255. The microfingers250a-fmay include one or more sensing tips260(not all numbered due to clutter) each in accordance with the present disclosure, configured to simultaneously interact with localized regions of the vessel wall14upon deployment. A collection of microfingers250a-cis shown in the process of ablating a local tissue site, thus forming an ablation zone265. A hypothetical RF ablation current pathway267is shown in the figure for purposes of discussion. In a usage scenario, the microfingers250a-eand associated sensing tips260may be configured to bias against the lumen wall14and to monitor local electrophysiological activity in the lumen wall while the surgical tool is positioned therein, and/or drawn along the axis of the lumen during a mapping process, etc. In the given example, an anatomical site269of interest (i.e. a nerve plexus, a high traffic nerve plexus, a tumor, etc.) is detected near to sensing tip260, and an ablation process may be initiated through select microfingers in the arrays250a-c. In aspects, the anatomy of interest may be mapped, and/or the layout of the anatomy determined either via movement of the microtool along the length of the lumen, via coordinated sensing, and/or stimulation/sensing between related microfinger arrays (not explicitly shown), etc. via one or more methods in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, two or more of the microfingers250d-emay be configured to pass current272there between, to measure an electrophysiological signal there between, etc. In aspects, the system may include and/or be coupled to a controller, the controller configured to analyze the signals obtained from each microfinger and determine the location and/or state of an anatomical site of interest, determine the extent of an ablation procedure, etc.

FIG.3shows a plurality of micro-tips monitoring physiological response and/or stimulating local tissue during a surgical procedure. Three sensing tips310a-care shown abutted against a vessel wall15. The sensing tips310a-cmay be attached to microfingers, substrates, balloons, or the like (each in accordance with the present disclosure).

In a first example320, the first sensing tip310ais used both to stimulate the local tissues (e.g. in order to determine proximity to a local nerve, to determine one or more aspects of local nerve function, etc.), and to ablate the local tissues (e.g. as part of a denervation event, to destroy cancerous tissue, to cauterize a tissue site, etc.). The second sensing tip310bis configured to monitor local temperature variation of the tissues with which it may be in contact during a surgical procedure. The third sensing tip310cis configured to sense an electrical response from the local tissues during a surgical procedure (e.g. evoked potential, EMG, microvoltage, current flow, etc.).

FIG.3also shows a time series of events for the first example320, shown during an RF ablation procedure. During a testing period316one or more stimulatory pulses321may be applied to the first sensing tip310aand monitored322by one or more of the other tips (in this case the third sensing tip310c). Perhaps during this period the combination of stimulation and response satisfies a predetermined surgical criterion for initiating local ablation (i.e. local nerves identified, overactive neurological traffic detected, etc.). During the ablation period317, an RF signal323is applied to the tissues via the first sensing tip310a(e.g. perhaps with current flow to the third sensing tip310c, to a remote macroelectrode, combinations thereof, etc.). The RF ablation may be performed sequentially or with a duty cycle so as to evaluate the progress throughout. It may also be performed in one sequence. The RF signal as measured by the third sensing tip310cmay be used to assist with determining bioimpedance of the local tissues, the state of the local tissues, etc. during the ablation process. In this non-limiting example, local tissue temperature325near to the ablation site (as monitored via the second sensing tip310b) may also be used to estimate the extent of the ablation process, perhaps in combination with sensing via the third sensing tip310c, and/or bioimpedance measurements. When the temperature and/or ablation process reaches a setpoint, the ablation is stopped and the local tissues are allowed to recover. This timeframe is shown as a recovery period318. In aspects, the recovery period318may be less than 2 min, 1 min, 30 s, 10 s, 1 s, 0.1 s. In an additional testing period319, the first sensing tip310amay stimulate the local tissues and the third sensing tip310cmay monitor for a response. In this case, an absent response indicates that the ablation procedure has proceeded sufficiently for the intended purposes and the microsurgical sensory tip array may be advanced to a new site or removed from the lumen.

FIG.3also shows a time series of events for a second example330, shown during an RF ablation procedure. In this example, the first sensing tip310aand the third sensing tip310care configured so as to monitor local electrophysiological response of the tissues (i.e. to monitor extracellular neurological activity, local field potentials, electromyographic signals, etc.) and the second sensing tip310bis configured to apply an RF current to the lumen wall15adjacent there to. During a testing period331electrophysiological responses are monitored at the first sensing tip310aand the third sensing tip310c. As can be seen from the a-site response curve335and the c-site response curve337, prior to an ablation, the coherence between the sensed signals is high (i.e. closer to 1 than to 0). During the ablation period332an RF signal336is applied to the tissues via the second sensing tip310b(e.g. perhaps with current flow to the first sensing tip310a, the third sensing tip310c, or to a remote macroelectrode, combinations thereof, etc.). The RF ablation may be performed sequentially or with a duty cycle so as to evaluate the progress throughout. It may also be performed in one sequence. The associated RF signal as measured by the first sensing tip310aand the third sensing tip310cmay be used to assist with determining bioimpedance of the local tissues, direction of RF current flow from the second sensing tip310b, the state of the local tissues, etc. during the ablation process. When the temperature and/or ablation process reaches a setpoint, the ablation is stopped and the local tissues are allowed to recover. This timeframe is shown as a recovery period333. In aspects, the recovery period333may be less than 10 min, less than 5 min, less than 2 min, less than 1 min, less than 30 s, less than 10 s, less than 1 s, less than 0.1 s, or the like. During the recovery period electrophysiological responses are monitored at the first sensing tip310aand the third sensing tip330c. As can be seen from the a-site response curve335and the c-site response curve337, after the ablation procedure332, the coherence between the sensed signals has changed dramatically (i.e. it has decreased significantly). The measure of coherence between the signals before and after a surgical procedure, may be a quantifiable indicator of a state of completion thereof, it may be a quantifiable measurement of the local percentage change in neurological activity, it may be an indicator of the ratio of afferent/efferent traffic in the vicinity of the sensing tips310a-c, and the like. In this case, a markedly changed coherence between the a-site signal335and c-site signal337indicates that the ablation procedure has proceeded sufficiently for the intended purposes and the microsurgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure, may advance to a new site or removed from the lumen. Such coherence based determination of procedural outcomes may be a suitable method for automatically performing associated surgical procedures, for controlling the extent of such surgical procedures, and the like.

FIGS.4a-bshow interactions between multiple micro-tips and the local vasculature in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.4ashows a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure including three arrays of microfingers410a-cinteracting with the vessel walls16of a local anatomical site. The microfinger arrays410a-care shown in a deployed state from a delivery catheter415in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the microfinger arrays410a-cmay be arranged so as to sufficiently cover the lumen walls16after deployment. In aspects, the microfinger arrays410a-cmay be swept along the vessel walls via torsional action of the micro surgical tool or aspect thereof. The microfinger arrays410a-care shown as swept in a counter clockwise direction420in theFIG.4a. A local contact site between a microfinger array410cand the vessel wall16is shown in more detail in blowup B. One or more of the microfingers may include one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.4bshows a magnified view of blowup B. Three micro-tips430a-cincluded in the microfinger array410care shown pressed against a local tissue site of the lumen wall16. Each microtip includes a sensing tip435a-cin accordance with the present disclosure. In this case, the sensing tips shown may be electrodes, MMG sensing elements, force sensing elements, temperature sensors, any sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure, combinations thereof, or the like. A single micro-tip430bis shown with a full outline for further discussion. During a procedure, the micro-tip430bmay be swept, oscillated, etc. the tip will interact locally with the tissue (e.g. via transverse movement, changing contact forces, etc.). Such movement may be directed towards/away from the tissue surface (i.e. in a direction normal445to the tissue surface), and/or along the surface of the tissue (i.e. in a direction parallel440to the tissue surface). Equipped with an associated deflection sensing tip and/or an interfacial pressure sensing tip, these movements may be used to elucidate local physiologic properties (e.g. mechanical compliance, tone, etc.) of the tissues. Alternatively, additionally, or in combination a suitably equipped micro-tip430bmay be used to measure local mechanomyographic response, perhaps due to electrophysiological activity in the vicinity of, or upstream from the tip430b. Such information may be used for several intended purposes as detailed throughout this disclosure.

In aspects, the microfinger may be equipped with a needle electrode tip (perhaps formed as a structural extension of the flexure, etc.). The needle electrode tip may be configured such that upon applied torsion in a given direction, the needle may pierce the local tissues so as to enhance the electrical interface between the microfinger and the tissues. Such a needle electrode tip may be integrated into one or more microfingers and/or sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS.5a-cshow some non-limiting aspects of micro-tips and/or tips of one or more microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.5ashows schematic diagrams for the cross sections of four non-limiting examples of micro-tips in accordance with the present disclosure (i.e. in this case including one or more exposed electrode sensing tips).FIG.5ashows a schematic of the tip of a micro-finger510including a core flexure512(e.g. a superelastic spring-like material, optionally electrically conducting, a wire, a flex circuit, a micro interconnect, etc.), with an isolating layer514(e.g. an oxide, a dielectric coating, a radio-opaque coating, etc.) applied selectively to regions thereof. At the tip of the micro-finger510, a region516of uncoated core flexure is exposed. This region516may, provide an electrode property for interacting with local tissues, provide a site for attachment of a microsensor, etc. In aspects, the exposed region516may be coated with one or more electrode materials (i.e. one or more metals, alloys, conducting polymers, composites, carbon materials, conjugated polymers, combinations thereof, or the like). In the example shown, the exposed region516is oriented to one side of the neutral axis of the core flexure512. Such orientation may be advantageous for maintaining contact with an adjacent tissue surface while sweeping or moving the micro-tip510, while biasing the micro-tip510against a tissue surface, etc. In aspects, the micro-tip510may be configured with a curvature, oriented so as to ensure the exposed region516will face an approaching tissue surface during deployment.

FIG.5ashows a schematic of a micro-tip520in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro-tip520is shown with a core flexure522and an insulating layer524, each in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro-tip520may include an axially oriented exposed region526, located at the tip thereof. The axially oriented exposed region526may be configured for electrically interfacing with an adjacent tissue, with a sensing tip (i.e. a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure), or the like. Such a configuration may be advantageous for the simplicity of manufacture, etc. The core flexure522may be shaped in the vicinity of the exposed region526so as to efficiently interface against an adjacent tissue surface.

FIG.5afurther shows a schematic of a microfinger530in accordance with the present disclosure. The microfinger530may include a core-flexure532and an insulating layer534each in accordance with the present disclosure. The microfinger530may include an exposed region536in accordance with the present disclosure. The core-flexure532may be shaped to a point and/or an edge within the vicinity of the exposed region536. Such a configuration may be advantageous to cause the microfinger530to grip and/or penetrate into a tissue surface when brought into contact therewith.

FIG.5ashows a schematic of a micro-tip540in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro-tip includes a plurality of core flexures542a-b, each in accordance with the present disclosure and one or more regions covered with an insulating layer544in accordance with the present disclosure. In the example shown, the micro-tip540may include a plurality of exposed regions546a-boriented along the length or near the tip thereof. The exposed regions546a-bmay act as electrode based sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure, may be configured so as to accept one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may advantageous for monitoring local electrophysiological signals, bioimpedance, impedance between the tip region546band the shank region546a(i.e. so as to determine if the tip is in contact with an adjacent fluid, etc.).

In aspects, the core flexures542a-bmay include a flex circuit with a plurality of interconnects. The exposed regions546a-bmay include a plurality of contacts for interfacing between the core flexures542a-band one or more sensing tips attached thereto.

In aspects, one or more of the microfingers510,520,530,540may include one or more electrical interconnects arranged along the length thereof, one or more distributed integrated circuit elements, etc.

In aspects, the microtip510,520,530,540may include a plated electrode structure, a mushroom like electrode (e.g. so as to increase the contact surface area between the microtip and the tissues), a bent tip, a loop formation, a foot-like electrode element, etc.

In aspects, the microtip510,520,530,540may be equipped with a needle electrode tip (perhaps formed as a structural extension of the flexure, etc.). The needle electrode tip may be configured such that upon applied torsion in a given direction, the needle may pierce the local tissues so as to enhance the electrical interface between the microtip and the tissues.

FIG.5bshows a ribbon like microfinger550in accordance with the present disclosure. The ribbon microfinger550may include a substrate552in accordance with the present disclosure, a spring-like material, a flexible polymeric material, or any combination thereof. As shown, the ribbon microfinger550includes electrical interconnects554coupled to the substrate552for communicating one or more electrical signals along the length thereof as well as regions556a-bat the tip suitable for interacting with local tissues (i.e. a site suitable for a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure). The electrical interconnects554may be coupled to one or more of the regions556a-b(i.e. coupled with one or more electrode based sensing tips, coupled to one or more sensing tip interconnects, etc.).

FIG.5cshows a helical ribbon microfinger560in accordance with the present disclosure. The helical ribbon microfinger560may include a plurality of sensing tips566, each coupled to a substrate562and optionally to one or more interconnects566each in accordance with the present disclosure. The substrate562may include one or more embedded microcircuits568, coupled to the sensing tips566and/or the interconnects566, so as to provide a signal conditioning function, switching function, multiplexing functionality, or the like, in accordance with the present disclosure.

A ribbon microfinger550,560may be configured so as to take on a particular shape (i.e. a hook like shape559as shown inFIG.5b, a helical shape569as shown inFIG.5c, or the like) upon deployment, perhaps from a delivery catheter in accordance with the present disclosure.

Such a ribbon microfinger550,560may be attachable to a micro balloon catheter, wound around a stent-like mesh, etc. so as to provide support thereto and/or to bias the ribbon microfinger into the adjacent tissues for purposes of monitoring, stimulating, and/or performing a procedure (i.e. heating, ablating, abrading, etc.).

In aspects, the ribbon microfinger550,560may include one or more circuit elements568(e.g. a switch, an amplifier, etc.) in order to control direction of, perform a conditioning function to, alter the impedance of, etc. a signal passed along the microfinger (i.e. to or from the micro-tip).

FIGS.6a-bshow a microfinger610in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.6ashows an axial view of a microfinger610demonstrating an optional multi-axial curvature thereof, as well as a sweeping action620that may be achieved therewith during a procedure with the microfinger610biased against a lumen wall17.FIG.6bshows a longitudinal view of the same microfinger610, demonstrating additional curvature thereof as well as contact between the microfinger610and coupled sensing tip630with a local anatomical surface (i.e. in this case a vessel wall17). An arrow620is shown inFIGS.6a-bto demonstrate the sense of rotation of the microfinger610as it is swept over a vessel wall17. A lumen axis18is also shown so as to demonstrate the approach for the microfinger610after deployment from a delivery catheter (not explicitly shown).

FIGS.7a-bshow a micro-tip710including a MMG sensing element and a response in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro-tip710includes an interfacial force sensing element720(e.g. a nanomaterial coating, a piezoresistive coating, a piezoelectric coating, etc.) and a flexural sensing element730(e.g. a nanomaterial coating, a piezoresistive coating, a piezoelectric coating, etc.). Both elements720,730may be coupled to the substrate715of the microtip710. The micro-tip710may be subsequently connected740to a controller or microcircuit (not explicitly shown) via one or more interconnects, included in the micro-tip (i.e. along a substrate715and/or core flexure thereof). Such electrical elements may be embedded into the substrate715, into a delivery catheter (not explicitly shown), coupled to one or more elements of an associated surgical tool, or the like. The interfacial force sensing element720may be configured to measure a contact force between the microfinger710and an adjacent tissue surface. The flexural sensing element730may be configured to measure flexure of the micro-tip710during such interaction. Thus, via monitoring signals from both sensing elements720,730a local compliance of the adjacent tissues may be measured/inferred (i.e. via measurement of contact force, flexure, and/or some combination thereof).

FIG.7bshows a time series of conditioned signals received from a flexural sensor and an associated interfacial force sensor during a stimulation event750(e.g. perhaps as excited by another sensing tip included in an associated micro surgical tool, etc.). The stimulation and associated response from each sensor720,730is shown on the time series (i.e. force sensing760and strain sensing770respectively). In aspects, the stimulation may be caused by an electrical stimulation event, perhaps elsewhere in the body, in a related neurological circuit, or the like. The combination of force sensing760and strain sensing770signals may be combined to form an MMG signal. The resulting MMG signal(s) may be sufficiently free from electrical noise that may be present when measuring via alternative measures.

FIGS.8a-bshow a schematic of a micro-tip810in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.8ashows a micro-tip810with an integrated temperature sensing tip840. The temperature sensing tip840may include a bimetallic configuration, a silicon sensing element, an infrared sensing microcircuit, etc. The micro-tip810includes a plurality of electrical interconnects directed between the temperature sensing tip840and a controller850(e.g. a local control circuit, an analog to digital converter, a local signal amplifier, etc.). The micro-tip810may include a substrate and/or core flexure820along which such electrical interconnects may be coupled. The micro-tip810may include one or more insulating layers830in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.8bshows a time series measurement from the temperature sensing tip840during a series of local RF ablation pulses860. Local temperature rise870as measured by the temperature sensing tip840may be used to control the overall pulse width of each RF pulse, the overall RF energy delivery, the RF power, etc. In aspects, such information may be coupled with one or more signals obtained from an associated sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure. Such information may be collectively used to determine the extent of an ablation process, in deciding to continue with an ablation procedure, or the like.

FIG.9shows a micro surgical tool910deployed at a surgical site19,20,21in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool910includes a delivery catheter915and a plurality of microfinger arrays920a-b, the microfinger arrays920a-bpenetrating into the renal artery21of a subject. The micro surgical tool910includes a guide wire940(alternatively a guiding arm, a control arm, etc.) coupled to the microfinger arrays920a-bsuch that they may be controlled by an external operator, robot, etc. (i.e. coupled950to the micro surgical tool910). In the arrangement shown, one of the microfinger arrays920bis attached to a local signal conditioning integrate circuit930, positioned so as to provide conditioning of signals sensed at the microfinger tips920b, perhaps to convert the signals into digital forms, to provide a low impedance source, etc. The other microfinger array920ais oriented adjacent to an anatomical site20of interest (i.e. in this case nerve plexus). The presence/location of the anatomical site20of interest may have been determined via monitoring of one or more sensing tips within the microfinger arrays920a-bduring a sweeping procedure, etc. Having identified/located the anatomical site20of interest, the operator, controller, etc.950may perform a surgical procedure thereupon.

FIGS.10a-dshow non-limiting examples of monitoring methods in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.10ashows a lumen (i.e. a vessel, a vein, an artery, a renal artery, etc.) prior to a surgical process. Two sensing sites are shown, distal1015and proximal1010to the intended surgical site. An ablation catheter tip1020(e.g. although shown as a separate unit, it may be included in an associated microfinger array as a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure) including an ablation electrode1025is placed in contact with the tissues between the sensing sites. One or more sensing tips may be placed at the sensing sites1010,1015, among others, as well as optionally at the surgical site (i.e. to perform a combination of sensing and procedures). Prior to initiation of the surgical procedure, nervous activity may be detected at both sensing sites1010,1015. In aspects, the correlation between the electrophysiological signals (i.e. neurological signals, electromyographic signals, mechanical myographic signals, etc.) may be relatively high prior to initiation of a surgical procedure. In aspects, the correlation between the electrophysiological signals may include the step of extracting a portion of each signal that is substantially common to both signals for analysis.

FIG.10bshows a lumen (i.e. a renal artery) after a surgical ablation process. Two sensing sites are shown, distal1040and proximal1035to the surgical site. An ablation catheter tip1020(e.g. although shown as a separate unit, it may be included in an associated microfinger array as a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure) equipped with an ablation electrode1025is placed in contact with the tissues between the sensing sites. The ablation catheter tip1020has been employed as part of a surgical procedure to form an ablation zone1030, in this case shown substantially around the circumference of the arterial wall around the surgical site forming the ablation zone1030. After completion of the ablation procedure, nervous activity may no longer be detected at one or more of the sensing sites1035. In this example, the ablation procedure has substantially blocked afferent nerve traffic from proceeding through the ablation zone1030. In aspects, efferent nerve traffic may still be detectable at the proximal sensing site1035, and afferent nerve traffic may still be detectable at the distal sensing site1040. The correlation between the resulting signals may be used to quantify the state of the ablation process, the extent of denervation, etc.

In aspects, the above method and variations thereof may be used to extract the afferent from the efferent nerve traffic in the vicinity of a surgical site of interest. In aspects, the surgical procedure may include the application of energy to the surgical site in a substantially low dosage so as to temporarily inhibit function of the neurological anatomy in the vicinity thereof. In one non-limiting example, the energy may be used to heat the local tissues to a temperature of greater than 40 C, 45 C, 50 C so as to form the temporary block. Signals obtained by the distal and proximal sensing sites1035,1040may be used to determine when the block has occurred, how the block has affected the traffic, and to distinguish, post block, information about the efferent and afferent nerve traffic in the vicinity of the surgical site.

In aspects, following a temporary block, if the procedure has favorably altered the neurological traffic, a more durable procedure may be completed (i.e. an ablation procedure, a chemical denervation, a thermal ablation process, a radiation based ablation, etc.). Such an approach may be advantageous for safely determining the ideal targets for a surgical procedure, for minimizing damage to the surrounding tissues in completing a denervation procedure, and the like.

FIG.10cshows a lumen (i.e. a renal artery) prior to a surgical process. Two sensing sites are shown, distal1050and proximal1045to the intended surgical site and a pacing site1055is shown located to one side of the intended surgical site. An ablation catheter tip1020(e.g. although shown as a separate unit, it may be included in an associated microfinger array as a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure) is placed in contact with the tissues between the sensing sites. One or more sensing tips may be placed at the sensing sites1045,1050, among others, as well as optionally at the surgical site (i.e. to perform a combination of sensing and procedures). Prior to initiation of the surgical procedure, both a pacing signal1055as well as associated nervous activity may be reliably detected at both sensing sites1045,1050. The pacing signal1055may be used to determine a transmission velocity along the associated anatomy between the pacing site1055and each of the sensing sites1045,1050, may be used to determine the transmission characteristics of the anatomy between sites, etc. In aspects, the coherence between the electrophysiological signals (i.e. neurological signals, electromyographic signals, mechanical myographic signals, etc.) may be relatively high prior to initiation of a surgical procedure. In aspects, the coherence in combination with the pacing signal may be advantageous in extracting the relevant information to make an assessment of neurological function quickly and reliably, even in the presence in considerable background noise, movement, and physiologically relevant neurological activity.

In aspects, the step of evaluating the coherence between the electrophysiological signals may include the step of extracting a portion of each signal that is substantially common to both signals for analysis.

FIG.10dshows a renal artery after a surgical ablation process. Two sensing sites are shown, distal1065and proximal1060to the surgical site and a pacing site1070is shown located to one side of the intended surgical site. An ablation catheter tip1020(e.g. although shown as a separate unit, it may be included in an associated microfinger array as a sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure) with an ablation electrode1025is placed in contact with the tissues between the sensing sites1060,1070. The ablation catheter tip1020has been swept around the circumference of the arterial wall around the intended surgical site forming an ablation zone1030. After completion of the ablation procedure, nervous activity may no longer be detected at one or more of the sensing sites1060,1065even under the continued action of the pacing signal1070.

In aspects, one or more of the distal sensing1015,1040,1050,1065, proximal sensing1010,1035,1045,1060, pacing1055,1070, and surgical procedure (i.e. formation of a blocked region, an ablation zone1030, etc.) may be completed by one or more sensing tips each in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS.11a-gshow some non-limiting examples of ablation patterns applied to a renal artery in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.11ashows a lumen1105(i.e. a tubule, a vessel, an artery, a vein, a renal artery, etc.) prior to the application of a surgical procedure thereto. As outlined in the Figure, a range of neurological structures (i.e. nerve plexuses)1110,1115,1120, are visible within the wall and surrounding adventitia of the lumen1105. In aspects, the lumen1105may provide a conduit for flow of a fluid (i.e. blood, bile, lymph, urine, feces, etc.), and to interconnect one or more organs, and or aspects of an organ (i.e. an intra-organ vessel).

FIG.11bshows the lumen (i.e. the renal artery) with a circumferentially ablated region1125generated by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. Sensing tips located to either side or within the ablation zone1125may be used to confirm effective ablation, control the ablation process itself, for decision making related to the size and placement of the ablation site, to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the ablation procedure, or the like. In this non-limiting example, the associated ablation zone1125may be produced by collective activation of a plurality of sensing tips, arranged around the circumference of the lumen1105, by swept motion of one or more sensing tips during a procedure, or the like.

FIG.11cshows the lumen (i.e. the renal artery) after a selectively targeted nerve bundle1127has been ablated by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. Sensing tips included in the micro surgical tool may have been used to locate target tissues for ablation, monitor the ablation process itself, to avoid ablation of nerve bundles that are not to be surgically treated, to confirm effective ablation, and to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the ablation procedure. In this non-limiting example, the nerve bundle1127is ablated at local sites1130along the length thereof so as to limit damage to the surrounding tissues. In aspects, such ablation profiles may be formed during collective activation of a plurality of sensing tips each in accordance with the present disclosure, via selective ablation of tips during a longitudinal sweeping process, via selective ablation of tips during a tracking process, combinations thereof, or the like.

FIG.11dshows the lumen (i.e. renal artery) after a group of selectively targeted nerve bundles1132,1134have been ablated by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, sensing tips included in the micro surgical tool may have been used to locate target tissues for ablation, monitor the ablation process itself, to avoid ablation of nerve bundles that are not to be surgically treated, to confirm effective ablation, and to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the ablation procedure. In this non-limiting example, the nerve bundles1132,1134are ablated at local sites1135along the length thereof so as to limit damage to the surrounding tissues. Local sites1135may be placed so as to minimize potential damage to nearby anatomical features, which may not be intended targets for the surgical procedure.

FIG.11eshows the lumen (i.e. renal artery) after a selectively targeted nerve bundle1142has been ablated by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, sensing tips included in the micro surgical tool may have been used to track the targeted tissues as the ablation process is occurring (so as to establish an ablation path along the target tissues), locate target tissues for ablation, monitor the ablation process itself, to avoid ablation of nerve bundles that are not to be surgically treated, to confirm effective ablation, and to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the ablation procedure. In this non-limiting example, the nerve bundle1142is ablated along a continuous strip1140as followed with guidance from the sensing tips. Such a long stretch of ablated tissue may be employed to limit the potential for regeneration after the surgical procedure has been completed. In aspects, feedback from signals obtained from one or more sensing tips may be used to guide the surgical hardware during the surgical procedure (i.e. ablation, chemical substance delivery, etc.).

FIG.11fshows the lumen (i.e. renal artery) after selectively targeted nerve bundles1152,1154,1156have been ablated by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the sensing tips included in the micro surgical tool may have been used to locate target tissues for ablation, to identify tissues for ablation, monitor the ablation process itself, to avoid ablation of nerve bundles that are not to be surgically treated, to confirm effective ablation, and to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the ablation procedure. A substantially helical tool path1150is shown, as the micro surgical tool traced around the walls of the renal artery during the ablation procedure. In this non-limiting example, the nerve bundles1152,1154,1156are ablated at a plurality of local sites1145along the length thereof so as to limit damage to the surrounding tissues. In aspects, the targeted neuroanatomical structures1152,1154,1156may be treated along the length thereof in order to control the post-surgical regrowth rate, or the like.

FIG.11gshows a lumen1160(i.e. a vessel, an artery, a renal artery, a vein, a tubule, etc.) after a selectively targeted treatment zones1175,1180,1185have been formed around target anatomical structures1165,1167,1169by a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. Target neurological structure1165, perhaps connecting one or more structures1170in the vicinity of the lumen1160to one or more external organs, ganglia, or the like, that are somewhat removed from the lumen1160may be targeted as well during such procedures. In aspects, sensing tips included in the micro surgical tool may have been used to track the targeted tissues as the surgical process is occurring (so as to establish a treatment path in the vicinity of the target tissues), locate target tissues for treatment, monitor the treatment process itself, to avoid unintentional treatment of nerve bundles that are not to be surgically treated, to confirm effective treatment, and to limit the overall amount of damage caused by the treatment procedure. In this non-limiting example, the target anatomical structures1165,1167,1169are treated along one or more pathways1177,1182,1187as followed with guidance from one or more of the sensing tips (or via collective local treatment by a collection of sensing tips). Such stretches and strategic placement of treatment zones1175,1180,1185may be employed to limit the potential for regeneration after the surgical procedure has been completed. In aspects, feedback from signals obtained from one or more sensing tips may be used to guide the surgical hardware during the surgical procedure (i.e. ablation, chemical substance delivery, cryoablation, energy delivery, abrasion, etc.).

FIG.12ashows a schematic diagram of a micro surgical tool1210deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool1210is shown deployed into a renal artery1202of a subject having passed through a superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries), via aortic artery1205and into the renal artery1202(or to the mouth thereof). The micro surgical tool1210includes a delivery catheter1224and a microfinger array1212in accordance with the present disclosure, shown in contact with the walls of the renal artery1203(i.e. biased towards, in controlled contact with, penetrating into, etc.). Connected to the microfinger array1212via a guiding arm1215is a local control circuit1220in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the guiding arm1215may include one or more electrical interconnects, one or more structural elements, a conduit, or the like coupled to the microfinger array1212and/or the local control circuit1220. The control circuit1220may route signal traffic to and from the microfinger array1212, etc. The schematic further depicts application of RF current1221applied locally between sensing tips in the microfinger array1212as well as an alternative RF current1223between one or more sensing tips in the microfinger array1212and an external electrode (not explicitly shown). The catheter1224may be coupled to an operator1226, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the microfinger array1212during a procedure. In aspects, the microfinger array1212may be advanced and/or retracted1227, along the lumen1203and/or rotated1229around the circumference of the lumen1203during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like.

FIG.12bshows a schematic diagram of a micro surgical tool1230deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool1230is shown deployed into a renal artery1202of a subject having passed through a superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries), via aortic artery1205and into the renal artery1202(or to the mouth thereof). The micro surgical tool1230includes a delivery catheter1232and a microfinger array1234in accordance with the present disclosure, shown in contact with the walls of the renal artery1203(i.e. biased towards, in controlled contact with, penetrating into, etc.). In this, non-limiting example, the microfinger array1234is configured as a longitudinal wire cage in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may be advantageous to maintain contact with the lumen walls during a procedure without inhibiting flow of fluids through lumen. Connected to the microfinger array1234via a guiding arm1238is a local control circuit1236in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the guiding arm1238may include one or more electrical interconnects, one or more structural elements, a conduit, or the like coupled to the microfinger array1234and/or the local control circuit1236. The micro-surgical tool1230is also configured to accommodate, or includes a guide wire1240configured to assist with guiding the microfinger array1234to the target anatomical site. The microfinger array1234may be coupled to a distal ringlet1241or equivalent feature, configured to accommodate the passage of the guide wire1240there through during the procedure. In aspects, the control circuit1236may route signal traffic to and from the microfinger array1234, etc. The schematic further depicts application of RF current1243applied locally between sensing tips in the microfinger array1234as well as an alternative RF current1245between one or more sensing tips in the microfinger array1234and an external electrode (not explicitly shown). The catheter1236and/or guiding arm1238may be coupled to an operator1226, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the microfinger array1234during a procedure. In aspects, the microfinger array1234may be advanced and/or retracted1247, along the lumen1203and/or expanded/contracted1249as part of a procedure, a deployment, and/or a retraction procedure within the lumen1203during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like.

FIG.12cshows a schematic diagram of a micro surgical tool1250deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool1250is shown deployed into a renal artery1202of a subject having passed through a superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries), via aortic artery1205and into the renal artery1202(or to the mouth thereof). The micro surgical tool1250includes a delivery catheter1258and a plurality of microfinger arrays1252,1254each in accordance with the present disclosure, shown in contact with the walls of the renal artery1203(i.e. biased towards, in controlled contact with, penetrating into, etc.). In this, non-limiting example, the microfinger arrays1252,1254are configured as a radially biased flexural springs, in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may be advantageous to maintain contact with the lumen walls during a procedure without inhibiting flow of fluids through lumen, to accommodate a wide range of anatomical features, to maintain a relatively constant bias force on the lumen walls1203during a procedure, for simple deployment/retraction, combinations thereof, or the like. Connected to the microfinger arrays1252,1254via one or more guiding arms1256,1257is a local control circuit1260in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the guiding arm(s)1256,1257may include one or more electrical interconnects, one or more structural elements, a conduit, or the like coupled to the microfinger arrays1252,1254and/or the local control circuit1260. The micro-surgical tool1250may also be configured to accommodate, and/or include a guide wire (not explicitly shown) configured to assist with guiding the microfinger arrays1252,1254to the target anatomical site. In aspects, one or more of the guiding arms1256,1257may be configured so as to retract and or advance along the microsurgical tool1250with respect to the microfinger arrays1252,1254so as to cover and/or expose one or more of the microfinger arrays1252,1254during a retraction and/or deployment process. In aspects, the control circuit1260may route signal traffic to and from one or more of the microfinger arrays1252,1254, etc. The schematic further depicts application of RF current1261applied locally between sensing tips in the microfinger arrays1252,1254as well as an alternative RF current1263between one or more sensing tips in the microfinger arrays1252,1254and an external electrode (not explicitly shown). The catheter1260and/or guiding arm(s)1256,1257may be coupled to an operator1226, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the microfinger arrays1252,1254during a procedure. In aspects, the microfinger arrays1252,1254may be advanced and/or retracted1265, along the lumen1203and/or deployed or retracted by movement1267of one or more guiding arms1256,1257during deployment, and/or a retraction procedure within the lumen1203during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like. In aspects, the microsurgical tool1250may be advanced after deployment of the microfinger arrays1252,1254so as to strongly bias and/or penetrate one or more sensing tips in the microfinger arrays1252,1254into the wall1203of the lumen1205during a procedure.

FIG.12dshows a schematic diagram of a micro surgical tool1270deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool1270is shown deployed into a renal artery1202of a subject having passed through a superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries), via aortic artery1205and into the renal artery1202(or to the mouth thereof). The micro surgical tool1270includes a delivery catheter1272and a plurality of sensing tips1274arranged over a balloon1275each in accordance with the present disclosure, shown in contact with the walls of the renal artery1203(i.e. biased towards, in controlled contact with, penetrating into, etc.). In this, non-limiting example, one or more of the sensing tips1274may be arranged along the balloon1275walls so as to contact the lumen wall1203during and/or after deployment. Such a configuration may be advantageous for isolating one or more of the sensing tips1274from the fluid which would normally flow through the lumen1202. Connected to the balloon1275and one or more of the sensing tips1274, via a guiding arm1277is a local control circuit1280in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the guiding arm1277may include one or more electrical interconnects, one or more structural elements, a conduit for delivery/removal of fluid to/from the balloon1275, or the like coupled to the sensing tips1274and/or the local control circuit1280. The micro-surgical tool1270may also be configured to accommodate, and/or include a guide wire (not explicitly shown) configured to assist with guiding the balloon1275to the target anatomical site. In aspects, the balloon1275and/or guiding arm1277may be coupled to a distal ringlet1282or equivalent feature, configured to fasten the balloon to the guiding arm1277and/or to accommodate the passage of the guide wire1240there through during the procedure. In aspects, the guiding arm1277may be configured so as to retract and or advance along the microsurgical tool1270with respect to the balloon1275so as to cover and/or expose one or more of the sensing tips1274during a retraction and/or deployment process. In aspects, the control circuit1280may route signal traffic to and from one or more of the sensing tips1274, etc. The schematic further depicts application of RF current1281applied locally between sensing tips1274as well as an alternative RF current1283between one or more sensing tips1274and an external electrode (not explicitly shown). The catheter1272and/or guiding arm1277may be coupled to an operator1226, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the sensing tips1274during a procedure. In aspects, the balloon1275may be repositioned1285along the lumen1203and/or expanded or contracted1287during deployment, and/or a retraction procedure within the lumen1203during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like.

FIG.13shows a schematic diagram of interaction between one or more macroelectrodes1302,1304,1306(i.e. not limited to three, could be a range of possibilities) and a micro surgical tool1310deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. The abdomen1301of a subject is shown with an internally placed micro surgical tool1310(dotted line) located with the tip1315in a renal artery of the subject. When a suitable target site for an ablation process is determined, the electrical impedance (e.g. DC impedance, AC impedance, real, imaginary, complex impedance spectra, etc.) between elements of the network formed by one or more sensing tips1315included in the micro surgical tool1310, one or more macroelectrodes1302,1304,1306placed on the body of the patient, pushed up against the patient, located along the catheter wall of the micro surgical tool, placed within the patient (perhaps endoscopically, via a catheterization procedure, etc.) may be monitored. Such relational impedance measurements are depicted diagrammatically with arrows1321,1323,1325,1331,1333,1335between elements1302,1304,1306,1310,1315of the network inFIG.13.

Based upon the impedances in the associated network, an RF ablation current may be applied between two or more elements1301,1304,1306,1310,1315thereof. In one non-limiting example, each element1301,1304,1306,1310,1315of the network may include a controllable impedance circuit. The impedance control circuits may be used to draw a portion of the RF current into/out of the associated element1301,1304,1306,1310,1315. In this sense, local control of the RF current at the sensing tips1315may be more precisely controlled. Electric field strengths, current flow, etc. may be monitored at any element1301,1304,1306,1310,1315of the network so as to determine the RF current flow path into the local tissues of the target anatomy (i.e. into a wall of a lumen, a renal artery, etc.).

FIG.14shows a micro balloon catheter1410deployed at a surgical site in accordance with the present disclosure. In this non-limiting example, the micro balloon catheter1410is shown deployed into a renal artery1402of a subject having passed through a superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries), via aortic artery1405and into the renal artery1402(or to the mouth thereof). The micro balloon catheter1410is shown with a layer of indicating agents1415and/or contrast agent coated onto the balloon1420thereof. The micro balloon catheter1410is shown as placed within the renal artery1402of a subject, in an inflated state. In this state, the indicating agents1415and/or contrast agents are released1419(i.e. via diffusion, active transport, etc.) into the surrounding tissues for later use during a surgical procedure. In aspects, the micro balloon catheter1410may include one or more sensory tips, a delivery catheter1422, a guiding arm1424, coupled to the balloon1420in accordance with the present disclosure. The catheter1422may be coupled to an operator1426, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the balloon1420during a procedure. In aspects, the indicating agent1415may be configured so as to change chromatic and/or photochemical properties in the presence, when bound to, or when incorporated into the target anatomy.

FIGS.15a-bshow aspects of non-limiting examples of optical microsensing tips1510and a collective response therefrom in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.15ashows an array of optical microsensing tips1510biased towards the wall1501of a vessel. The optical microsensing tips1510are configured to receive from and/or emit energy into the adjacent tissues of the wall1502. In aspects, an external light source1515may also provide light towards the surgical site (i.e. vessel walls1502). In aspects, energy1520passing through an anatomical site of interest1503may be accepted by one or more of the optical microsensing tips1510, each configured to generate a signal therefrom. In aspects, the microsensing tips1510may include a fiber optic element coupled to a remote light source and/or photodetector. Such a configuration may be coupled with the indicating agents described inFIG.15(i.e. so as to locate the target anatomy as part of a surgical procedure). In aspects, the indicating agent1415may be configured so as to change chromatic and/or photochemical properties in the presence, when bound to, or when incorporated into the target anatomy1503, thus being detectable by one or more optical microsensing tips1510.

FIG.15bshows a spectral response of the light received by the optical microsensing tips1510and that emitted by an external light source. The detected signals1535,1540may be used to determine the location of target tissues in the vessel wall. In aspects, the optical microsensing tips1510may include one or more electrode elements so as to selectively and locally ablate target tissues based on the response of the sensed signals1535,1540.

FIG.16shows a combination catheterization and endoscopic procedure on a renal artery in accordance with the present disclosure. A micro surgical tool1610in accordance with the present disclosure is shown as placed into the renal artery of a subject. One or more endoscopically placed light sources1615,1617may be shone at the renal artery. In aspects, the light sources1615,1617may be multi-band sources, broadband sources, narrow band sources, modulated, or any combination thereof. In aspects, the micro surgical1610tool may include one or more optical microsensors to receive such light, the processed signals used to determine the location of target tissues in the renal artery. In aspects, the microsurgical tool1610may include one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure to selectively treat target anatomy based on the determined locations thereof. An optional endoscopically placed camera1620is also shown. In aspects, the camera1620may include a light source. The camera1620may be used as part of a feedback mechanism to control placement of the micro surgical tool1610in the renal artery. In aspects, the camera1620may use a range of light sources to elicit placement information of target anatomy (perhaps in combination with indicating/contrast agents in accordance with the present disclosure), placement of the micro surgical tool1610within the renal artery, and/or monitoring of the surgical procedure (i.e. ablation procedure, chemical denervation, chemical deployment, etc.). Such a feedback mechanism may be used to precisely guide the micro surgical tool1610during a surgical procedure (i.e. ablation procedure, etc.). In one non-limiting example the camera1620and/or a light source1615,1617may include a macroelectrode in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.17ashows a schematic diagram of aspects of a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool includes a plurality of microfingers1710equipped with sensing tips1715in accordance with the present disclosure, a local control circuit1720(optionally located near to the tip of the micro surgical tool) in accordance with the present disclosure, and a guiding arm1726and a delivery catheter1724to connect, both mechanically and electrically the tip of the tool to an operator, robot, etc. In aspects, the local control circuit1720may be located at the operating end of the catheter1724(i.e outside the body of a subject during use). Alternatively, additionally, or in combination a control circuit1720may be coupled to the microfingers1710directly, or via the guiding arm1726in order to communicate signals to or from the sensing tips1715during a procedure. In aspects, the microfingers1710may be configured so as to bend within the body of a subject (i.e. after a deployment process, etc.) so as to bias toward the walls of the anatomy of interest, etc. In aspects, the microfingers1710may be directed (i.e. like a pencil) towards the wall of an organ, and/or anatomical feature so as to form a plurality of microcontacts at each sensing tips, for the purposes of mapping, sensing, performing a treatment, etc. thereupon.

FIG.17bshows a schematic diagram of aspects of a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool includes a plurality of microfinger arrays1730a-bequipped with sensing tips1731a-b, a guiding arm1732, and a delivery catheter1734each in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the guiding arm1732, one or more microfingers1730a-b, and/or the catheter1734may include a control circuit in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, a local control circuit1720in accordance with the present disclosure may be located at the operating end of the catheter1734(i.e outside the body of a subject during use). Alternatively, additionally, or in combination a control circuit may be coupled to one or more of the microfingers1730a-bdirectly, or via the guiding arm1732in order to communicate signals to or from the sensing tips1731a-bduring a procedure. In aspects, the microfinger arrays1730a-bmay be configured so as to bend within the body of a subject (i.e. after a deployment process, etc.) so as to bias toward the walls of the anatomy of interest, etc. In aspects, one or more of the microfingers1730a-bmay be configured so as to bend when heated to body temperature (i.e. so as to self-deploy during a procedure). In aspects, the guiding arm1732and/or the catheter1734(and/or a sleeve thereupon) may be retracted1736to initiate a deployment process so as to expose one or more of the microfingers1730a-band bring them into contact with the intended anatomy. In aspects, one or more sensing tips1731a-bmay be equipped with one or more electrodes for electrophysiological sensing, stimulation, and/or RF current delivery to the surrounding tissues. Thus signals may be monitored between1738sensing tips1731a-bin different microfinger arrays1730a-bor within1739the same microfinger array1730a,1730b. In aspects, the guiding arm1732and/or catheter1734may be adjustable so as to adjust the distance between microfinger arrays1730a-bin the micro surgical tool tip.

FIG.17cshows a schematic diagram of aspects of a micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The micro surgical tool includes a longitudinal wire cage including a plurality of microfingers1740a-b, with regions coupled to sensing tips1742a-fin accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may be advantageous to maintain contact between one or more sensing tips1742a-fwith the lumen walls during a procedure without inhibiting flow of fluids through lumen. In aspects, the micro-surgical tool may be configured to accommodate, or to include a guide wire (not explicitly shown) configured to assist with guiding wire cage to the target anatomical site. In aspects, the wire cage may be coupled to a distal ringlet1750or equivalent feature, configured to accommodate the passage of a guide wire there through during the procedure. The schematic further depicts application of RF current1752applied locally between sensing tips1742e,fin the wire cage. The wire cage may be coupled to a delivery catheter1754, perhaps coupled as a sleeve that can extend over the wire cage so as to force collapse thereof. In aspects, retraction1760of the delivery catheter1754may be used to deploy the wire cage during a procedure. The catheter1754and/or an enclosed guiding arm (not explicitly shown) may be coupled to an operator, a controller, a signal conditioning circuit, or the like for controlling the sensing tips1742a-f, and/or the wire cage during a procedure. In aspects, the wire cage may be advanced and/or retracted, along a lumen (not explicitly shown) and/or expanded/contracted as part of a procedure, a deployment, and/or a retraction procedure within the lumen during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips1742a-fmay be equipped with one or more electrodes for electrophysiological sensing, stimulation, and/or RF current delivery to the surrounding tissues. Thus signals may be monitored between sensing tips1742a-f, between a sensing tip1742a-fand an external electrode, etc.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips1742a-fmay be arranged longitudinally along the axis of the microsurgical tip, such that the sensing tips1742a-fare biased against a lumen wall at site spaced along the longitudinal direction thereof upon deployment.

FIGS.18a-fshow aspects of non-limiting examples of micro surgical tools in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.18ashows a microfinger array in accordance with the present disclosure. The array includes five microfingers1810each equipped with one or more sensory tips1815in accordance with the present disclosure. The microfingers1810and associated sensing tips1815are shown biased against a tissue surface1801. Interaction between two of the sensing tips1815is depicted with an arrow1820in the diagram.

FIG.18bshows a time series of data collected by several sensing tips1815in the microfinger array1810. The neurological activity1825of a local tissue site is monitored1827. At a ablation start time1826, an ablation current1829is sent through one or more sensing tips1815and an altered neurological activity1831is confirmed afterwards.

FIG.18cshows an aspect of a mesh-like array1840of interwoven wires1842(i.e. microfingers in accordance with the present disclosure), with associated sensing tips1844. The sensing tips1844may be arranged such that they contact the local tissues1802when the mesh1840is biased against the tissue1802. In one non-limiting example, the mesh-like array1840may be formed from an interwoven group of superelastic wires (e.g. Nitinol wires, spring steel wires, etc.). The mesh1840may be formed as a sock, webbing, an arched structure, a donut, a net, etc. Upon deployment to the surgical site, the mesh1840may expand so as to contact the local tissues1802of interest. Electrical interconnects for the sensing tips1844may be provided via the wires1842, routed along the wires1842, etc. In on non-limiting example, substrates in accordance with the present disclosure may be interwoven instead of the wires1842as shown. Such substrates may be used to form a deployable mesh like structure complete with electrical interconnects, sensing tips1844, distributed integrated circuits, etc.

FIG.18dshows aspects of a net like micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The net like structure1850may be formed from one or more fibers, wires, ribbons, etc. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination the one or more net like structures1850may include a substrate in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g. a porous substrate material such as a silk structure, an elastomer, polymer, netting, fabric, fiber composite, etc.). In one non-limiting example, a silk-flexcircuit composite may form the net like structure1850. In this example, the flexcircuit may be formed from materials as known to those skilled in the art, the flex circuit may be constructed such that substantial material, not occupied by electrical interconnects is removed (thus forming a loosely connected webbing of flexcircuit elements). The flexcircuit may thus be formed in an excessively thin form (e.g. less than 25 um, less than 10 um, less than 4 um, less than 1 um thick). A supporting material such as silk may be used to complete the substrate and form a functional, robust net like structure1850included in the micro surgical tool. The net like structure may be interconnected1852to a delivery catheter, an operator, a controller, one or more control circuits, etc. each in accordance with the present disclosure.

The micro surgical tool may include or be coupled with a micro balloon, the micro balloon configured so as to bias the net up against the local tissues1803.

FIG.18eshows a stent-like deployable micro surgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The stent-like micro tool1862may include a plurality of sensing tips1860electrically interconnected with the remainder of the micro surgical tool. The sensing tips1860may be positioned throughout the stent-like micro tool1862. In one non-limiting example, the sensing tips1860may be generally positioned towards the end of the tool. The stent-like micro tool may be interconnected to a guiding arm1864for connection1865to an operator (not explicitly shown), controller, etc.

The stent-like micro tool may be inserted into a lumen1804past the intended surgical site. It may then be deployed so as to expand outwards and make contact with the lumen walls1804. The micro-tool may then be dragged1865forward, sweeping along the walls of the vessel. In one non-limiting example, the sensing tips1860may be configured to monitor physiologic parameters during this initial sweep (e.g. so as to map the local tissue properties). After the first sweep, the tool1862may be retracted and once again placed beyond the intended surgical site. It may then be deployed so as to expand outwards and make contact with the surgical site. The tool1862may then be dragged forward, sweeping along the walls of the vessel for a second time. During this second sweep, the sensing tips1860may be activated to locally ablate tissue at predetermined locations determined by the initial sweep. Sensory tips1860may further be monitored during ablation processes to ensure that the processes are sufficiently completed before further sweeping the stent-like micro tool1862though the vessel.

In another non-limiting example the stent-like micro tool1862may be inserted past the intended surgical site. It may then be deployed so as to expand outwards and make contact with the lumen wall1804. The micro-tool1862may then be dragged forward, sweeping along the walls of the vessel1804. The sensing tips1860may, in concert, monitor the local physiologic properties of the tissues and selectively activated to locally ablate tissues. Thus both the functions of monitoring and ablation may be completed in a single sweep.

The stent-like micro tool1862may include any features described herein as they pertain to a microfinger in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.18fshows a two dimensional graph, indicating the ablation profile of 5 sensing tips located in a stent-like micro tool in accordance with the present disclosure. The desired ablation profile may be predetermined (e.g. as determined by an initial sweep), or determined in concert during a sensing+ablation sweep. As can be seen in the example shown, two of the sensing tips did not pass any target tissue in need of ablation during this sweep, thus an ablation procedure may be directed towards other sensing tips in the array so as to minimize damage to local tissues during the procedure.

FIGS.19a-bshow a tonal sensing tip and sample response in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.19ashows a close up of an associated microfinger1910in accordance with the present disclosure. The microfinger1910includes an interfacial pressure sensor (at the tip, in accordance with the present disclosure) and/or a flexural sensor (along the length thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure). An excitation1915,1920,1925applied to the microfinger1910may be used to generate variable contact forces and contact deflections at the point of contact between the microfinger and a local tissue surface1901. Signals obtained from the flexural sensor may be representative of the contact deflections that occur during the excitation period. Signals obtained from the interfacial pressure sensor may be representative of the contact forces that occur during the excitation period. The simultaneous monitoring of both signals, perhaps in combination with a compliance model for the microfinger1910may be useful for determining the local mechanical properties of the tissue in the vicinity of the contact point.

FIG.19bshows a deflection force curve, generated by the microfinger1910described inFIG.19aduring an excitation session. The deflection/force relationships (e.g. mean relationships, hysteresis, frequency dependence, creep, strain hardening, etc.) may be used to determine the type of tissues1901in which the microfinger is in contact. As can be seen in the figure, a particularly soft relationship1930(low modulus of elasticity) may be associated with a potential tumor tissue. Healthy tissue may exhibit a modulus of elasticity within a known “good” range1935, and the trend1950in elastic modulus that occurs as the tissue is ablated by a surgical procedure, may be followed to determine the extent of the ablation process. A successful ablation process may be qualified by a range of elastic modulus change1940, as observed during the ablation process.

FIGS.20a-bshow aspects of surgical tools in accordance with the present disclosure.FIG.20ashows a surgical tool including a delivery catheter2005in accordance with the present disclosure including an array of microfingers2010, the microfingers2010connected2011through the catheter2005to an operating fixture, control circuit, signal conditioning circuit, hand held control unit, surgical robot, a coupling, or the like. The microfingers2010in accordance with the present disclosure are arranged along the inside of the delivery catheter2005and are arranged with a pre-biased shape, such that upon retraction2021of the catheter2005, the microfingers2010may be deployed radially2119towards an anatomical site of interest (i.e. a surgical site, a tissue surface, a lumen wall, etc.). One or more of the microfingers2010may include one or more sensing tips2015in accordance with the present disclosure. In the non-limiting example shown, each sensing tip includes an electrode configured to interface with an anatomical site of interest. The catheter2005is configured to slide over an associated guide wire2030, so as to be easily directed to a surgical site during an insertion procedure. In the non-limiting example shown, the microfingers2010include shaped tips (upon which the sensing tips2015are arranged). Such shaped tips may be advantageous to control the bias pressure against an anatomical site of interest (i.e. so as to prevent penetration, etc.). In aspects, one or more of the microfingers2010may terminate at a microneedle sensing tip in accordance with the present disclosure. Such a configuration may be advantageous to allow for controlled penetration of one or more sensing tips2015into the wall of a surgical site. In aspects, after deployment, the entire microfinger array2010may be drawn2023along the length of a lumen, so as to map the lumen, sweep monitor and ablate the lumen, assess the state of anatomy after a surgical procedure, combinations thereof, or the like.

FIG.20bshows catheter2005in accordance with the present disclosure including a longitudinal wire cage including an array of microfingers2010, the microfingers2050connected2053through a delivery catheter2054to an operating fixture, control circuit, signal conditioning circuit, hand held control unit, surgical robot, a coupling, or the like. The microfingers2050in accordance with the present disclosure are arranged along the inside of the delivery catheter2054with a range of pre-biased shapes, such that upon retraction2056of the delivery catheter2054or an over sheath coupled thereto, the microfingers2050may be deployed radially2057towards an anatomical site of interest (i.e. a surgical site, a tissue surface, a lumen wall, etc.) to form the wire cage. One or more of the microfingers2050may include one or more sensing tips2051in accordance with the present disclosure. In the non-limiting example shown, each sensing tip includes an electrode configured to interface with an anatomical site of interest. The catheter2054is configured to slide over an associated guide wire2060, so as to be easily directed to a surgical site during an insertion procedure. In aspects, the wire cage may be coupled to a distal ringlet2062or equivalent feature, configured to accommodate the passage of a guide wire there through during the procedure.

In aspects, the microfingers2050may be arranged such the sensing tips2051are arranged so as to contact the lumen wall upon deployment.

Such a configuration may be advantageous to maintain contact between one or more sensing tips2051with the lumen walls during a procedure without inhibiting flow of fluids through lumen. In aspects, the wire cage may be advanced and/or retracted, along a lumen (not explicitly shown) and/or expanded/contracted as part of a procedure, a deployment, and/or a retraction procedure within the lumen during procedures related to searching for anatomical sites of interest, performing sensing, mapping, surgical treatments, ablation, or the like.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips2051may be equipped with one or more electrodes for electrophysiological sensing, stimulation, and/or RF current delivery to the surrounding tissues.

In aspects, one or more sensing tips2051may be arranged longitudinally along the axis of the microsurgical tip, such that the sensing tips2051are biased against a lumen wall at site spaced along the longitudinal direction thereof upon deployment.

FIG.21shows aspects of a system for performing a surgical procedure in accordance with the present disclosure. The system is shown interfacing with a surgical site2101within a body, a subject, a patient, etc. The system includes a microsurgical tool2110in accordance with the present disclosure. During use, the microsurgical tool2110is configured to interact2112with the surgical site2101in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the microsurgical tool2110may be coupled to a connector2120, the connector providing a mechanical and electrical interface between the microsurgical tool2110and one or more other modules of the system. In aspects, the microsurgical tool may include an embedded local control circuit2115a(a microcircuit, a switch network, a signal conditioning circuit, etc.) in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the connector2120may include a local control circuit2115bin accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, the connector2120may be coupled to an operator input device2125(i.e. a foot pedal, an advancing slider, a torqueing mechanism, a recording button, an ablation button, etc.). In aspects, the connector2120may be coupled to a control unit2130configured to accept one or more signals from the microsurgical tool2110, communicate one or more control signals thereto, send one or more pulsatile and/or radio frequency signals to the microcontroller, record one or more electrophysiological signals from the microsurgical tool, or the like.

In aspects, the control unit2130may be connected to a display2135configured to present one or more aspects of the recorded signals from the microsurgical tool to an operator, to present a map, at least partially dependent on the recorded signals, etc.

In aspects, the control unit2130may be coupled to a surgical subsystem2140, the surgical subsystem2140configured to perform a surgical procedure2145to the surgical site2101. Some non-limiting examples of suitable surgical procedures include an ablation, an excision, a cut, a burn, a radio frequency ablation, radiosurgery, an ultrasonic ablation, an abrasion, a biopsy, and delivery of a substance. The control unit2130may be configured to influence, direct, control, and/or provide feedback for one or more aspects of the surgical procedure2140, based upon one or more of the electrophysiological signals conveyed by the microsurgical tool2110.

In aspects, the microsurgical tool2110includes means for monitoring one or more physiologic parameters in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS.22a, bfurther illustrate aspects of systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG.22aillustrates aspects of a system and/or procedure for determining the extent of a denervation procedure. An organ2203(e.g. a kidney, etc.) is shown with associated lumen2205(i.e. artery, vein, ureter, etc.), one or more nerves passing in close proximity to the lumen2205between a central nervous system and the organ2203.FIG.22aalso illustrates a first region2225and a second region2230located along the length of the lumen2205, the first region2225equidistant to or farther from the organ2203than the second region2230.FIG.22afurther illustrates a means for measuring, monitoring2235, or evaluating a change in a physiologic parameter2201in accordance with the present disclosure, blood pressure, sympathetic tone, vessel wall stiffness, combinations thereof, or the like (i.e. such as via a pressure sensor, a blood pressure cuff, a finger cuff, a blood pressure sensing catheter, a microsurgical tool2110in accordance with the present disclosure, etc.).

FIG.22billustrates aspects of a system and/or procedure for determining the extent of a denervation procedure. An organ2203(e.g. a kidney, etc.) is shown with associated lumen2205(i.e. artery, vein, ureter, etc.), one or more nerves passing in close proximity to the lumen2205between a central nervous system and the organ2203.FIG.22balso illustrates a first region2250and a second region2255located along the length of the lumen2205, the first region2250equidistant to or farther from the organ2203than the second region2255.FIG.22bfurther illustrates a means for measuring, monitoring2285, or evaluating a change in a physiologic parameter2201in accordance with the present disclosure, blood pressure, sympathetic tone, vessel wall stiffness, combinations thereof, or the like (i.e. such as via a pressure sensor, a blood pressure cuff, a finger cuff, a blood pressure sensing catheter, a microsurgical tool2110in accordance with the present disclosure, etc.).

FIG.22billustrates a schematic diagram of a tool2265in accordance with the present disclosure configured to perform a procedure on the first region2250or second region2255in close proximity to the lumen2205. The tool2265includes a distal region2260configured for performing the procedure, stimulating, sensing, ablating, monitoring one or more of the physiologic parameters2201, or the like in accordance with the present disclosure. The surgical tool2265may include a second region2270including a sensor in accordance with the present disclosure configured to monitor one or more of the physiologic parameters2201.

In aspects, one or more steps of a method in accordance with the present disclosure may be performed by the surgical tool2265. In aspects, the surgical tool2265may be a microsurgical tool2110in accordance with the present disclosure. The monitoring2285information, energy delivery, chemical delivery, coordination between sensing/treatment aspects of the tool may be coupled with a controller2130, a display2135or the like.

In aspects, the surgical tool may include one or more sensing tips, micro fingers, or the like each in accordance with the present disclosure. The tips, microfingers, or the like may be arranged such at that one or more may interface with tissues in the vicinity of the first region2250or the second region2255either with a single placement of the tool within the lumen2205, or when upon repositioning the tip within the lumen2205(i.e. the tips, fingers, etc. may be distributed along the length of the lumen, position able within the lumen, etc.). In aspects, the surgical tool may include a balloon in accordance with the present disclosure, the balloon including one or more energy delivery elements (i.e. electrodes, thermal heating elements, etc.), and/or chemical delivery elements (i.e. for delivery of a chemical substance into an adjacent tissue), arranged along the length of the balloon and optionally around the circumference of the balloon. In aspects one or more energy or chemical delivery elements, tips, microfingers or the like, may be substantially independently operable so as to interface with one or more sites near or within the first region2250, and/or the second region2255during use.

In aspects, the first region2225,2250and/or the second region2230,2255may be arranged so as to substantially surround the lumen2205(i.e. so as to form a region through which the lumen2205passes).

A method in accordance with the present disclosure for determining the progression of a procedure may include performing a procedure on the first region2225,2250(i.e. energy application to, ablation of tissues in the vicinity of, delivery of a chemical to, etc.), applying follow on procedure to the second region2230,2255(i.e. stimulating, performing a procedure thereupon, applying energy thereto, etc.), and monitoring2235,2285one or more physiologic parameters2201(e.g. such as blood pressure). The procedure applied to the first region2225,2250was successfully completed if the physiologic parameter(s)2201does not change after applying the follow on procedure to the second region2230,2255. In aspects, the method may include monitoring2235,2285the physiologic parameter for a period of 5 s, 30 s, 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, 8 min after the application of the follow on procedure to the second region2230,2255.

In aspects, the method may include application of an excitotoxic substance (e.g. an amino acid, etc.) to the first region2225,2250to perform the procedure.

In aspects, the procedure may include an ablation, an excision, a cut, a burn, an RF ablation, an abrasion, radiosurgery, an ultrasonic ablation, a biopsy, delivery of a substance, etc. to the first region2225,2250.

In aspects, the follow up procedure may include delivery of energy to, delivery of a chemical to, providing thermal excitation to, delivery of current to, delivery of ultrasound energy to, cryogenically cooling, etc. the second region2230,2255.

In aspects, the first region2225,2250and the second region2230,2255may be substantially collocated with each other, the second region2230,2255may be located closer to the organ2203than the first region2225,2250, etc.

A system in accordance with the present disclosure may include a surgical tool for performing the procedure and/or follow on procedure to the first region2225,2250and/or the second region2230,2255respectively, a sensor coupled to the subject, the sensor configured to monitor2235,2285one or more of the physiologic parameters2201, and a feedback mechanism for informing an operator of the outcome of the procedure.

Some non-limiting examples of feedback generated by a feedback system in accordance with the present disclosure include visual feedback, audio feedback, indictors, a visual indicator, signal feedback, a tracing, a numerical readout, a pass/fail indicator, combinations thereof, and the like.

A method for determining the durability of a procedure in accordance with the present disclosure may include, applying a follow on procedure to a second region2230,2255of a subject during follow up to a previously performed procedure having been applied to the first region2225,2250and monitoring2235,2285a physiologic parameter2201in accordance with the present disclosure. If the physiologic parameter2201does not change within a period of time after applying the follow on procedure to the second region2230,2255, the procedure applied to the first region2225,2250is durable.

A method for predicting the extent to which a subject will respond to a procedure in accordance with the present disclosure may include, applying a follow on procedure to a first region2225,2250or to a second region2230,2255and monitoring2235,2285a physiologic parameter2201. If the physiologic parameter2201does not change significantly within a period of time after applying the follow on procedure to the subject, then the subject may not be a good candidate for a procedure in accordance with the present disclosure. If the physiologic parameter2201changes significantly after applying the follow on procedure to the subject, then the subject may be an ideal candidate for a procedure in accordance with the present disclosure. In aspects, a significant change in the physiologic parameter may be indicated by a change of greater than 0.5%, greater than 1%, greater than 5%. In aspects, a significant increase in the physiologic parameter may be a favorable response to the follow on procedure.

Some non-limiting methods for performing a procedure in accordance with the present disclosure are discussed herein.

In one non-limiting example, a method for addressing a surgical site within a vessel (e.g. an artery, a vein, a renal artery, a micro-vessel, etc.) is considered. The method includes, monitoring one or more local physiological signals (e.g. an evoked potential, a neurological activity, MSNA, EMG, MMG, extracellular signal, sympathetic tonal change, etc.) in accordance with the present disclosure at one or more measurement locations within the vessel to determine one or more reference signals; performing at least a portion of a surgical procedure (e.g. an ablation, an excision, a cut, a burn, an RF ablation, an abrasion, radiosurgery, an ultrasonic ablation, a biopsy, delivery of a substance, etc.) in accordance with the present disclosure at or near to one or more surgical locations (e.g. proximal, distal, remotely therefrom, and/or collocated with one or more of the measurement locations); monitoring one or more local physiological signals at one or more of the measurement locations to determine one or more updated signals; and comparing one or more reference signals with one or more updated signals to determine an extent of completion for the surgical procedure.

In aspects, the extent of completion may include a change, reduction and/or substantial elimination of at least a portion of one or more of the local physiological signals (e.g. reduction in amplitude of a frequency band, reduction in responsiveness, a change in a lag between measurement locations, a change in cross-talk between measurement locations, substantial elimination of the signal, etc.)

In aspects, the extent of completion may include measuring a change in coherence between two or more signals obtained from sites affected by the surgical procedure (i.e. from a first site distal to where the surgical procedure was performed, and from a second site proximal to where the surgical procedure was performed).

In aspects, the procedure may be to perform a temporary neurological block. In this aspect, the method may be used to separate afferent and efferent traffic from either side of the temporary block, for further analysis, diagnosis of disease, evaluation of neurological activity, or the like. In aspects, a temporary block may be followed by a more permanent block if the analysis demonstrates that such a substantially permanent block would be warranted.

The step of monitoring to determine an updated signal may be performed before, during, and/or after the step of performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure. In aspects, monitoring, stimulation, and ablation may be performed in succession and/or in parallel.

In aspects, the method may include sweeping one or more electrodes over the lumen wall while monitoring, stimulating, and/or ablating the surface thereof. In aspects, simultaneous monitoring and sweeping may be used to generate a map of neurological activity along the lumen wall.

The step of performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure may be repeated. Thus the method may be incrementally applied, so as to head towards completion in a stepwise process without excessive application of the surgical procedure.

The method may include waiting after performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure. Monitoring may be performed during the waiting procedure, perhaps so as to determine a recovery period for the local physiological signal (i.e. a time period over which the local physiological signal recovers). Such a recovery period may be an indication of the extent of completion.

In aspects, the method may include stimulating one or more stimulation locations (proximal, distal, remotely therefrom, and/or collocated with one or more of the measurement locations and/or the surgical locations). The step of stimulating may be coordinated with the step of performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure, and/or with the step of monitoring to determine a reference and/or updated signal. The stimulation may be provided in any form in accordance with the present disclosure. In one non-limiting example, the stimulation may include one or more current pulses, one or more voltage pulses, combinations thereof, or the like. The step of stimulation may be advantageous for assessing the updated signal at one or more measurement locations and/or between two or more measurement locations in the presence of background noise and/or local physiological activity.

In aspects, the method may include monitoring one or more remote physiologic parameters in accordance with the present disclosure at a remote location (e.g. an alternative vessel, an organ, a ganglion, a nerve, etc.) substantially removed from the immediate vicinity of the vessel to determine an updated remote physiological signal and/or reference remote physiological signal.

Some non-limiting examples of remote physiologic parameters that may be monitored include water concentration, tone, blood oxygen saturation of local tissues, evoked potential, stimulation/sensing of nervous activity, electromyography, temperature, blood pressure, vasodilation, vessel wall stiffness, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), central sympathetic drive (e.g. bursts per minute, bursts per heartbeat, etc.), tissue tone, blood flow (e.g. through an artery, through a renal artery), a blood flow differential signal (e.g. a significantly abnormal and or sudden change in blood flow within a structure of the body, a vessel, an organ, etc.), blood perfusion (e.g. to an organ, an eye, etc.), a blood analyte level (e.g. a hormone concentration, norepinephrine, catecholamine, renin, angiotensin II, an ion concentration, a water level, an oxygen level, etc.), nerve traffic (e.g. post ganglionic nerve traffic in the peroneal nerve, celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, aorticorenal ganglion, renal ganglion, and/or related nervous system structures), combinations thereof, and the like.

The updated remote physiological signal and/or reference remote physiological signal may be combined and/or compared with one or more reference signals, and/or one or more updated signals in order to determine the extent of completion, as part of a decision making process, and/or as part of a surgical control system (i.e. so as to determine whether to continue with, stop, or alter the surgical procedure).

The method may include selecting a surgical location. The step of selection may depend upon one or more monitoring steps, proximity to an alternative surgical location (i.e. perhaps a previously treated surgical location, etc.).

In aspects, the method may include sweeping the lumen while monitoring in order to localize one or more anatomical sites of interest, one or more regions of abnormal activity, etc.

In aspects, the steps of monitoring may be completed sequentially. Alternatively, additionally, or in combination, the steps of monitoring may be effectively continuously applied through the procedure. The comparison may be made using one or more data points obtained from one or more steps of monitoring. The comparison may be made via algorithmic combination of one or more measurements.

In aspects, the step of monitoring may be used to extract one or more electrophysiologic parameters during a first period and monitoring an applied field (i.e. as caused by a stimulation and/or ablation event) during a second period.

In aspects, the method may include generating a topographical map from the one or more measurements (e.g. from one or more of the signals). The method may include determining a topographical map of physiological functionality in the vicinity of the surgical site derived from one or more of the physiological signals. The method may include updating the topographical map after the step of performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure. The method may include generating the map during a sweeping process (i.e. a longitudinal sweep, a circumferential sweep, a helical sweep, etc.).

In aspects, the method may include placement of a plurality of surgical tools, one or more surgical tools (i.e. a procedural tool) placed so as to access one or more of the surgical locations, and one or more surgical tools (i.e. a monitoring tool) placed so as to access one or more of the monitoring locations. In one non-limiting example, a procedural tool may be placed in a first vessel (e.g. a renal artery, a left renal artery, etc.) and a monitoring tool may be placed into a second vessel (e.g. an opposing renal artery, a right renal artery, a femoral artery, an iliac artery, etc.). Thus, the monitoring tool may be used to monitor one or more of the measurement locations in the second vessel. The procedural tool may be used to surgically treat one or more surgical locations in the first vessel. Additionally, alternatively, or in combination, the procedural tool may monitor one or more monitoring locations in the first vessel, perhaps in combination with monitoring performed in the second vessel by the monitoring tool.

In aspects, the method may be performed with one or more surgical tools in accordance with the present disclosure.

One or more steps of monitoring may be performed with one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure.

One or more steps of performing at least a portion of the surgical procedure may be performed with one or more sensing tips in accordance with the present disclosure.

In one non-limiting example of a method for RF ablating tissue, the local tissue tone may be measured before, during, between individual RF pulses, and/or after a train of RF pulses. As the local tissue tone changes during application of the RF pulses, the tonal changes may be used to determine the extent of the therapy. As the RF ablation process is applied to the adjacent tissues (perhaps via one or more sensing tips), the tonal measurements (as determined by one or more sensing tips, perhaps the same tip through which the RF signal may be applied) may be monitored to determine an extent of completion of the procedure. Such an approach may be advantageous as the tonal measurement techniques may not be significantly affected by the local RF currents associated with the RF ablation procedure.

In aspects, an interventionalist/proceduralist may insert a catheter in accordance with the present disclosure into the aorta from either the superior or inferior approach (brachial or femoral arteries) and selectively cannulate the renal artery. In aspects, a guiding catheter may be used for this purpose. In aspects, a microsurgical tool in accordance with the present disclosure may be placed through the guiding catheter. In aspects, one or more regions of the microsurgical tool may be deployed thus allowing one or more electrodes included therein to bias against the lumen of the renal artery. Such a configuration may be advantageous to establish excellent mechanical and electrical contact with the walls of the renal artery.

In aspects, the electrodes may be made to puncture the vessel wall from the lumen side. The electrodes may be expandable and/or retractable, exiting in a stable pattern of 1 to 6, or more microfingers that permit stability and counter-opposition force to cause penetration of one or more of the electrodes into the intima, media, or adventitia of the lumen (i.e. artery, vein, etc.) to be measured. In aspects, one or more electrodes may be configured for microscopic or macroscopic spatial recording. Following a suitable period of recording, the device may be withdrawn into the guiding catheter and removed from the body.

It will be appreciated that additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosures presented herein and broader aspects thereof are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, many modifications, equivalents, and improvements may be included without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.