Energy delivery devices and methods
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a subject, the method comprising:
- damaging nerve tissue of a nerve trunk extending along an airway of a bronchial tree to attenuate nervous system signals transmitted to a portion of the bronchial tree, wherein damaging the nerve tissue comprises increasing a temperature of the nerve tissue to a first temperature with energy delivered by an energy delivery element positioned radially outward of an expandable member while a portion of a wall defining the airway is at a second temperature that is less than the first temperature, the portion of the wall at the second temperature being positioned directly radially inward from the nerve tissue at the first temperature, and directly radially outward of the energy delivery element, wherein the portion of the wall defining the airway includes epithelium that is contacted by the energy delivery element, and wherein the contacted epithelium is damaged by the energy delivered by the energy delivery element, and the method further includes flowing a cooling source into the expandable member to absorb heat from the contacted epithelium.
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Abstract
This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.
412 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for treating a subject, the method comprising:
damaging nerve tissue of a nerve trunk extending along an airway of a bronchial tree to attenuate nervous system signals transmitted to a portion of the bronchial tree, wherein damaging the nerve tissue comprises increasing a temperature of the nerve tissue to a first temperature with energy delivered by an energy delivery element positioned radially outward of an expandable member while a portion of a wall defining the airway is at a second temperature that is less than the first temperature, the portion of the wall at the second temperature being positioned directly radially inward from the nerve tissue at the first temperature, and directly radially outward of the energy delivery element, wherein the portion of the wall defining the airway includes epithelium that is contacted by the energy delivery element, and wherein the contacted epithelium is damaged by the energy delivered by the energy delivery element, and the method further includes flowing a cooling source into the expandable member to absorb heat from the contacted epithelium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating a lung, comprising:
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positioning an intraluminal device having an electrode positioned radially outward of a balloon at a treatment location in an airway of the lung such that the electrode contacts surface tissue defining the airway; and delivering energy from the electrode through the contacted surface tissue defining the airway to nerve tissue disposed radially outward of the contacted surface tissue so as to damage the nerve tissue while absorbing heat from the contacted surface tissue disposed radially between the electrode and the nerve tissue, wherein absorbing heat from the surface tissue includes flowing a cooling source into the balloon, wherein delivering energy from the electrode through the contacted surface tissue damages the contacted surface tissue, wherein the contacted surface tissue includes epithelium. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification