Modification of airways by application of energy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering energy to a wall of an airway in a human lung comprising:
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween;
a deployment member extending through said at least one lumen and terminating at a distal tip, said distal tip distal to said distal end of said elongated body;
an expandable basket, said expandable basket having a plurality of electrode legs, each of said electrode legs having a first end connected to the distal portion of the elongated body at a proximal joint and a second end connected to the deployment member at a distal joint adjacent to said distal tip, each of said plurality of electrode legs further having at least one energy insulated region and only one energy delivery region where expansion of the basket causes the energy delivery regions to contact the wall of the airway; and
at least one temperature sensing element comprising a thermocouple having a first lead and a second lead separately coupled to a portion of at least one of said energy delivery regions that contacts the wall of the airway when expanded such that the energy delivery region of the leg forms an intrinsic junction with the thermocouple.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This relates to methods and devices for treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, relates to a device for exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in the airway of human lungs. The exchange of energy with this airway tissue in the airways reduces the ability of the air ways to constrict and/or reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway. This also relates to a method for decreasing responsiveness or decreasing resistance to airflow of airways involves the transfer of energy to or from the airway walls to prevent or reduce airway constriction and other symptoms of lung diseases. The treatment reduces the ability of the airway to contract during an acute narrowing of the airways, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and/or increases the airway diameter. The methods according to the present invention provide a longer duration and/or more effective treatment for lung diseases than currently used drug treatments, and obviate patient compliance issues. This also includes additional steps that reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease and to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through a lung.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering energy to a wall of an airway in a human lung comprising:
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween;
a deployment member extending through said at least one lumen and terminating at a distal tip, said distal tip distal to said distal end of said elongated body;
an expandable basket, said expandable basket having a plurality of electrode legs, each of said electrode legs having a first end connected to the distal portion of the elongated body at a proximal joint and a second end connected to the deployment member at a distal joint adjacent to said distal tip, each of said plurality of electrode legs further having at least one energy insulated region and only one energy delivery region where expansion of the basket causes the energy delivery regions to contact the wall of the airway; and
at least one temperature sensing element comprising a thermocouple having a first lead and a second lead separately coupled to a portion of at least one of said energy delivery regions that contacts the wall of the airway when expanded such that the energy delivery region of the leg forms an intrinsic junction with the thermocouple. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween;
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37. An apparatus for delivering energy to a wall of an airway in a human lung comprising:
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, said distal portion having an expandable section expandable between a first state and a second state;
a deployment member extending through said at least one lumen and terminating at a distal tip distal to said distal end of said elongated body, said deployment member configured to move said expandable section between said first state and said second state;
at least one energy transfer element disposed along the exterior of said expandable section, each of said energy transfer elements being configured to contact the wall of the airway when said expandable section is in said second state;
a power supply configured to deliver energy to each of said energy transfer elements; and
at least one temperature sensing element coupled to at least one energy transfer element such that the temperature sensing element forms an intrinsic junction with the energy transfer element located on a portion of the expandable section that moves farthest away from the elongate body. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, said distal portion having an expandable section expandable between a first state and a second state;
Specification