Neuromodulation Systems and Methods for Enhanced Nerve Targeting
Summary
USPTO granted Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company Patent No. US12594118B2 covering neuromodulation systems with enhanced nerve targeting capabilities. The patent discloses methods for positioning reference and ablation electrodes intravascularly, obtaining impedance measurements, and identifying electrode groups for treatment based on those measurements. Medtronic secured intellectual property protection for these neuromodulation innovations.
What changed
USPTO granted Patent No. US12594118B2 to Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company on April 7, 2026. The patent covers systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy with enhanced nerve targeting, including positioning reference electrodes at patient skin, intravascularly positioning ablation electrodes within blood vessel lumens, obtaining impedance measurements between electrode combinations, and identifying electrode groups for treatment based on impedance data.
Competitors developing neuromodulation or ablation devices should conduct freedom-to-operate analyses to avoid potential patent infringement. Medical device manufacturers entering the neuromodulation space may need to design around these claims or seek licensing arrangements with Medtronic.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates
- Conduct freedom-to-operate analysis if developing competing neuromodulation devices
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Systems, devices, and associated methods for neuromodulation with enhanced nerve targeting
Grant US12594118B2 Kind: B2 Apr 07, 2026
Assignee
Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company
Inventors
Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
Abstract
Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.
CPC Classifications
A61B 18/1492 A61B 5/0538 A61B 5/4836 A61B 5/0035 A61B 5/0036 A61B 5/0531 A61B 2018/00404 A61B 2018/00434 A61B 2018/00577 A61B 2018/00636 A61B 2018/00642 A61B 2018/00648 A61B 2018/00654 A61B 2018/00666 A61B 2018/00702 A61B 2018/00755 A61B 2018/00875 A61B 2018/124 A61B 2018/1467 A61B 2018/165 A61B 2018/167
Filing Date
2023-11-03
Application No.
18501507
Claims
25
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