METHODS OF TREATING INFLAMMATION IN AIRWAYS

• US 20060278243A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Laufer, Michael D., Loomas, Bryan, DANEK, Christopher James, Kaplan, Gary, Biggs, Michael, Shriner, Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 8,534,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 : with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/044 : the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 : in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 : using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 : using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 : Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 : characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 : Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body

Abstract

This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.

Claims

1. A method for reducing inflammation of airway tissue in the lungs, the method comprising:

providing an energy transfer device;

transferring energy from the energy transfer device to or from airway tissue in an airway wall to reduce the inflammatory response of the airway tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, where the airway tissue is tissue selected from the group consisting of airway smooth muscle, epithelium, and mast cells.

3. The method of claim 1, where the energy transfer disrupts the inflammatory response by altering production or release of inflammatory mediators in at least a part of the airway.

4. The method of claim 1, where the energy transfer disrupts the inflammatory response by preventing replication of structures producing or releasing inflammatory mediators.

5. The method of claim 1, where the energy transfer disrupts the inflammatory response by eliminating at least a portion of the structures which produce or release inflammatory mediators.

6. The method of claim 5, where the energy transfer disrupts the inflammatory response by altering the ability of structures in the airway to produce or release inflammatory mediators.

7. The method of claim 1, where the energy is selected from a modality selected from the group consisting of mechanical, chemical, radio frequency, radioactive energy, heat, and ultrasound.

8. The method of claim 1, where transferring energy from the energy transfer device comprises moving the energy transfer device along the airway.

9. The method of claim 1, where the energy is transferred to a portion of the airway by an energy transfer device to create one or more energy transfer patterns.

10. The method of claim 9, where the energy transfer pattern is a pattern of one or more spots having a rectangular, elliptical, circular, or other shape.

11. The method of claim 9, where the energy is transferred to the airway in a band pattern covering a full diameter of the airway.

12. The method of claim 9, where the energy is transferred to the airway in a pattern of at least one stripe extending along the airway in a longitudinal or helical pattern.

13. The method of claim 1, where the energy is transferred to the airway by activating an energy transfer device, deactivating the energy transfer device, moving the energy transfer device, and reactivating the energy transfer device.