EXPANDABLE ELECTODE DEVICES AND METHODS OF TREATING BRONCHIAL TUBES

• US 20070106296A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Don, Laufer, Michael, Loomas, Bryan, Burger, Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/612,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/50
• 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 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• 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 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• 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 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

Methods are provided for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as asthma. The method includes heating the bronchial tube to cause tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen. The procedure effectively reinforces the structural integrity of the bronchial tube wall and thereby prevents the lumen from collapsing.

Claims

1. A method for treating an air passage in a lung, the method comprising:

delivering energy to an air passage in a lung to heat the air passage to cause a structural transformation resulting in improved lung function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the structural transformation comprises rendering the air passage capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen such that air flow through the lumen increases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the structural transformation resulting in improved lung function ameliorates the effects of asthma.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy to the air passage comprises heating the air passage to a temperature in a range between 60°

C. and 95°

C.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy to the air passage comprises delivering between 1 watt to 25 watts of energy to the air passage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein energy is delivered for a time period in a range between 1 second to about 60 seconds.

7. A method of treating asthma, the method comprising:

advancing a treatment apparatus into a lumen of an air passage in a lung;

expanding the apparatus to contact a wall of the air passage; and

energizing the apparatus to raise a temperature of the wall sufficiently to cause the air passage to undergo a structural transformation effective to treat asthma.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein advancing further comprises inserting the apparatus through a working channel of a bronchoscope.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the apparatus comprises applying monopolar or bipolar radio frequency energy.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein energizing the apparatus comprises simultaneously or sequentially activating electrodes.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring a temperature or impedance of the air passage wall while delivering energy to the airway passage.

12. A device for delivering radio frequency energy to a wall of an air passage of a lung so as to treat asthma, the device comprising:

a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;

a plurality of expandable radio frequency electrodes attached to the distal end of the tubular member and terminating at a distal tip, each of the electrodes having an insulated sleeve and an exposed contact region; and

a deployment member attached to the distal tip and positioned in the lumen of the tubular member, the deployment member configured to move the expandable electrodes between a collapsed and a radially expanded configuration, wherein the electrode contact regions are configured to contact a wall in an air passage in a lung when in the expanded radial configuration and which when energized causes the air passage to undergo a structural transformation effective to treat asthma.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrodes comprise wire shaped electrodes.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrodes comprise four curved electrodes.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the exposed contact region is located midway between a first and second end of each electrode.

16. An energy delivery system comprising:

the device of claim 12;

and

a bronchoscope having an illumination element, a visualization element, and a working channel for slidably receiving the device.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a source of energy electrically connected to the electrodes for the delivery of monopolar or bipolar energy.