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Modification of airways by application of energy

  • US 7,198,635 B2
  • Filed: 04/14/2003
  • Issued: 04/03/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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.

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