ENERGY DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20070106292A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: DANEK, Christopher, WIZEMAN, William, KAPLAN, Gary, WEBSTER, Noah, DALBEC, Timothy, PHAN, Huy
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A catheter for delivering radio frequency energy to an airway wall of a human lung, the catheter comprising:

a flexible elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion adapted for insertion into an airway of a human lung;

an expandable basket comprising a plurality of radio frequency electrode legs coupled to the distal portion of the shaft, each leg having a proximal end, a distal end, and a flexure length;

a proximal alignment component having a plurality of proximal seats extending along an axis of the proximal alignment component, the proximal alignment component secured to the distal portion of the shaft; and

a distal alignment component having a plurality of distal seats extending along an axis of the distal alignment component, wherein the plurality of distal seats are in alignment with the plurality of proximal seats;

wherein the distal end of each leg is nested within a distal seat and the proximal end of each leg is nested within a proximal seat such that an angle between adjacent legs is determined by an angle between adjacent seats and the flexure length is determined by the distance between proximal and distal alignment components.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the angle between adjacent legs varies by less than 20 degrees.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the angle between adjacent legs is in a range from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the angle between adjacent legs is in a range from about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the legs are pre-shaped.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the pre-shaped legs comprise a discrete bend.

7. The catheter of claim 6, wherein each discrete bend is at an angle in a range from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees.

8. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the pre-shaped legs comprise a curve shape.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal and distal alignment components extend within the expandable basket.

10. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a balloon member disposed within the expandable basket.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises an oblong, oval, or D-shaped cross section.

12. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a coil or braided member reinforcing the elongate shaft.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal alignment component includes a distal stop and the proximal alignment component includes a proximal stop, wherein the distal end of one of the legs contacts the distal stop and the proximal end of the same leg contacts the proximal stop to control the flexure length of each leg.

14. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the proximal alignment component comprises a protrusion, and wherein one leg comprises a notched portion which interferes with the protrusion to prevent the leg from moving in an axial direction.

15. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a conductive wire electrically coupling the legs at the proximal or distal alignment component.

16. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a temperature detecting element located on a leg.

17. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises a fluid delivery or suction lumen.

18. An energy delivery system comprising:

the catheter of claim 1;

and

a bronchoscope having a working channel for slidably receiving the device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the device is sized to allow for fluid delivery or suction through an opening between the working channel and an outer surface of the device.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a source of energy electrically connected to the legs for the delivery of monopolar or bipolar radio frequency energy.

21. A method for delivering energy to an airway wall of a human lung so as to treat asthma, the method comprising:

advancing a device into an airway of a human lung;

delivering energy to a wall of the airway with the device so as to treat asthma; and

suctioning or delivering fluid from or to the airway while the device is within the airway.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein suctioning or delivering fluid is carried out simultaneously or sequentially with energy delivery.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein suctioning or delivering fluid is carried out through an opening between a bronchoscope working channel and an outer surface of the device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein suctioning or delivering fluid is carried out through a lumen in the device.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising cooling the airway wall.