Devices for applying energy to tissue

• US 7,022,088 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Broncus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Broncus Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Thompson, David, Keast, Thomas, Roschak, Ed, Willink, Christopher Lee, Haugaard, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US10/079,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/438, 600/439, 600/453, 601/2, 601/3, 606 27- 29, 606 32- 34, 606/41
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 : Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 : Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 : Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• 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 2018/1425 : Needle
• 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: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 : with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/489 : Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 : Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 : Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 : Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 : Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/20 : Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith tracheae, bronchi per se A61F2/04 ; tracheostomy tubes A61M16/0465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 : with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 : characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 : made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/92 : Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 : Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 : provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 : Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.

Claims

1. A medical device for applying energy to tissue, the medical device comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a transducer assembly comprising

a covering having a proximal and distal end,

at least one transducer having at least a first and second pole,

a first conductive medium in contact with said first pole of said transducer and extending to at least a portion of an outer surface of said covering,

wherein said transducer assembly is located towards a distal end of said elongate member distal portion;

at least two conducting members extending through at least a portion of said elongate member, at least a first of said conducting members being electrically coupled to said first conductive medium, and a second of said conducting members extending through said proximal end of said covering and electrically coupled to said second pole of said transducer;

a hollow conductive member located at the distal end of said elongate member, said hollow conductive member electrically coupled to an energy source, and

a tip located at a distal end of said elongate member distal portion and having a front and back surface, said back surface being in acoustical communication with said transducer such that said tip is adapted to communicate a source signal from said transducer out through said front surface, said tip also being adapted to communicate a reflected signal from said front surface to said transducer assembly.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said tip comprises a methylpentene copolymer.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said front surface of said tip is round.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said front surface of said tip is flat.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said front surface of said tip is concave.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a retaining epoxy placed adjacent to said tip to assist in retaining said tip to the device.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein a surface of said tip adjacent to said elongate member contains at least one groove, wherein said retaining epoxy fills said groove to increase retention of said tip.

8. The medical device of claim 6, wherein said retaining epoxy is located at least between said tip and said transducer.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said elongate member comprises an insulating material.

10. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer over a portion of said elongate member.

11. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an outer sheath having a proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough, wherein said elongate member is located within said sheath lumen.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said hollow conductive member is coupled to said energy source via a third conducting member.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein said energy source is an RF energy source.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said hollow conductive member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum.

15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said hollow conductive member includes at least one slot and wherein a portion of an outer sheath member is retained within said at least one slot.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said first and second conducting members are electrically coupled to a control unit to measure the Doppler shift between the transmitted and received signals.

17. The medical device of claim 1, said transducer is a piezo-electric ultrasound transducer.

18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said covering comprises a first tube.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein said first tube is conductive.

20. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said transducer assembly further comprises a second tube placed within said covering and having an end placed adjacent to said transducer.

21. The medical device of claim 20, wherein said second tube is conductive and where said second conducting member is electrically coupled to said second tube.

22. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive epoxy within said covering, said non-conductive epoxy securing a portion of said second conducting member within said covering.

23. The medical device of claim 22, wherein a portion of said transducer is separated from said non-conductive epoxy by a gap.

24. The medical device of claim 22, further comprising a conductive epoxy at a proximal end of said transducer assembly, said conductive epoxy electrically coupling said first conducting member with said first conductive medium.

25. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said hollow conductive member is fixed in position relative to said transducer assembly.

26. The medical device of claim 1, wherein said hollow conductive member is slidable relative to said transducer assembly.

27. A medical device for detecting Doppler shift and for applying energy to tissue, the medical device comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a transducer assembly comprising

at least one transducer having at least a first and second pole,

a first conductive medium in contact with said first pole of said transducer,

wherein at least a portion of said transducer assembly is located towards said distal portion of said elongate member;

a tip having a back surface being in acoustical communication with said transducer such that said transducer is able to transmit and receive a signal having a wavelength to/from said tip;

a first conducting member and a second conducting member both extending through at least a portion of said elongate member, said first conducting member being electrically coupled to said first conductive medium, and said second conducting member being electrically coupled to said second pole of said transducer;

an outer sheath having a hollow conductive member located at a distal end of said sheath, said sheath and conductive member located about an exterior of said elongate member, said sheath and said elongate member slidable relative to one another; and

a third conducting member electrically coupling an RF power supply electrically coupled to said hollow conductive member.