A Reference-Less Time-Division-Duplex Transceiver IC for a 5-Fr 6-Electrode Renal Denervation Catheter in 0.18-μm 70-V BCDMOS.

This paper presents the first time-division-duplex transceiver IC for a 5-Fr 6-electrode renal denervation (RDN) catheter for treatment of resistant hypertension. Each IC encapsulated in a platinum electrode implements an RDN catheter with 37.5 % of diameter reduction, which enables minimally invasive surgery with reduced complications. The six electrodes sharing only four electrical wires perform packet communication with an external power control unit for independent operation and deliver the designated RF energy to the renal artery wall while measuring local temperature and impedance. Two 500- kHz 21-Vrms AC signals with ±35-V DC potentials are used as supplies to transfer up to 6-W RF ablation signal with 120-V swing while maintaining the maximum DC supply voltages of the ICs less than the break-down voltage of 70 V. The proposed RDN IC fabricated in 0.18-μm HV BCDMOS occupies 2.1 mm.