Bronchial stenter having expandable electrodes
First Claim
1. A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising the steps of:
- advancing a treatment apparatus into the lumen of the bronchial tube wherein the apparatus comprises;
at least one electrode which when energized causes tissue in a wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen, wherein the at least one electrode is expandable radially outward to contact the wall of the bronchial tube; and
activating the treatment apparatus to raise the temperature of the wall to sufficiently effect a structural transformation in the tissue of the wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as asthma. The apparatus delivers energy to inductively heat the tissue of the bronchial tube by directing electromagnetic energy into the tissue. The apparatus includes expandable electrodes that come into contact with the walls of the bronchial tubes. The expandable electrodes may be conical-shaped electrodes, loop-shaped electrodes, plate-shaped electrodes, or other shapes. 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.
517 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising the steps of:
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advancing a treatment apparatus into the lumen of the bronchial tube wherein the apparatus comprises;
at least one electrode which when energized causes tissue in a wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen, wherein the at least one electrode is expandable radially outward to contact the wall of the bronchial tube; and
activating the treatment apparatus to raise the temperature of the wall to sufficiently effect a structural transformation in the tissue of the wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising:
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a tubular member having a lumen;
an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member;
at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration;
the at least one electrode having a proximal end attached to the tubular member and a distal end attached to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, and a contact section between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the contact section is configured such that proximal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the tubular member deflects the contact section of the electrode causing a sharp bend in the contact section and producing movement of the contact section in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft towards the wall of the bronchial tube; and
a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising:
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a tubular member having a lumen;
an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member;
at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration;
wherein each electrode comprises a plurality of opposing portions having a first end attached to the elongated shaft and a second free end, said electrode being expandable in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft to assume an expanded shape; and
wherein the tubular member restrains each electrode in a contracted shape wherein upon advancement out of the tubular member each electrode assumes the expanded shape causing the free end to contact the bronchial wall; and
a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification