SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING COPD AND EMPHYSEMA

• US 20160184013A1
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Belenchia, Giordana, Brannan, Joseph D., Rooks, Kathy E., Smith, Kurt R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,103,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/101 Computer-aided simulation of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 : Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 : Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 : Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 : Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis

Abstract

A system and method enabling the receipt of image data of a patient, identification of one or more locations within the image data depicting symptoms of COPD, analyzing airways and vasculature proximate the identified locations; planning a pathway to the one or more locations, navigating an extended working channel to one of the locations, positioning a microwave ablation catheter proximate the location, and energizing the microwave ablation catheter to treat the locations depicting symptoms of COPD.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving image data of a patient;

identifying one or more locations within the image data depicting symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);

analyzing the airways and vasculature proximate the identified locations;

planning a pathway to the one or more locations;

navigating an extended working channel to one of the locations;

positioning a microwave ablation catheter proximate the location;

energizing the microwave ablation catheter to treat the locations depicting symptoms of COPD.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing the microwave ablation catheter proximate enlarged alveoli.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing the microwave ablation catheter proximate a region of the lungs where over production of mucus affects ventilation (V).

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising temporarily and reversibly sealing at least one airway proximate at least one of the identified locations.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising collapsing tissue in fluid communication with the sealed at least one airway.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising applying a vacuum to the sealed airway such that air within the alveoli is removed.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising inserting needle ablation probes into the tissue and applying energy to create coagulated zones.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising and mechanically collapsing the tissue.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising coagulating the tissue of alveoli in the collapsed state.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising increasing chest cavity volume into which untreated lung tissue can expand.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising increasing the ventilation (V) of the untreated lung tissue.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising sealing at least one pulmonary blood vessel associated with the alveoli.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one pulmonary blood vessel supplies blood to an identified location depicting symptoms of COPD.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming a shunt directing blood flow away from the at least one sealed pulmonary blood vessel to untreated portions of the lungs.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing the perfusion (Q) of the blood supply to untreated lung tissue.