Devices for modification of airways by transfer of energy
First Claim
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1. An energy transfer apparatus for facilitating energy transfer into a mass of airway tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and at least one lumen extending therebetween;
distal tip located at a distal end of the apparatus;
a plurality of electrically conductive legs each having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of each of the plurality of electrically conductive legs terminates in the distal tip, such that the plurality of electrically conductive legs are in electrical communication, each electrically conductive leg having a treatment section located between the distal and proximal ends, and being adapted to deflect away from an axis of the elongate body;
a proximal joint located on a distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the proximal end of each of the electrically conductive legs terminates in the proximal joint; and
an electrically conductive wire extending through the lumen of the elongated body and terminating at the distal tip, the wire being in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically conductive legs such that it may deliver current to the electrically conductive legs which when energized alter a bronchus or bronchiole wall so as to treat asthma, the wire also being moveable relative to the proximal joint to permit deflection of the plurality of conductive legs away from the wire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This relates to a device for treating lung disease, and more particularly, relates to a device for exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in the airways of human lungs. The exchange of energy with this airway tissue in the airways reduces the ability of the airways to constrict and/or reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. An energy transfer apparatus for facilitating energy transfer into a mass of airway tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and at least one lumen extending therebetween; distal tip located at a distal end of the apparatus; a plurality of electrically conductive legs each having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of each of the plurality of electrically conductive legs terminates in the distal tip, such that the plurality of electrically conductive legs are in electrical communication, each electrically conductive leg having a treatment section located between the distal and proximal ends, and being adapted to deflect away from an axis of the elongate body; a proximal joint located on a distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the proximal end of each of the electrically conductive legs terminates in the proximal joint; and an electrically conductive wire extending through the lumen of the elongated body and terminating at the distal tip, the wire being in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically conductive legs such that it may deliver current to the electrically conductive legs which when energized alter a bronchus or bronchiole wall so as to treat asthma, the wire also being moveable relative to the proximal joint to permit deflection of the plurality of conductive legs away from the wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An energy transfer apparatus for facilitating energy transfer into a mass of airway tissue, said apparatus sized to enter a bronchus or bronchiole of a human lung and comprising:
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a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and at least one lumen extending therebetween; a distally located expandable portion of said elongated body, said expandable portion having a first state and a second state, wherein said second state is radially expanded from said elongated body; a distal tip located distally of said expandable portion; at least one energy transfer element at an exterior of said expandable portion, wherein said at least one energy transfer elements is configured to contact a wall of the bronchus or bronchiole when said expandable portion is in said second state, a proximal joint at an intersection of said distal portion and said expandable portion wherein said expandable portion comprises a plurality of legs, each of said legs having a first end extending from said proximal joint and a second end fixedly attached to a distal joint, said distal joint being adjacent to said distal tip; a temperature detecting element attached to one of said plurality of legs wherein said temperature detecting element is in electrical communication with at least a portion of said leg such that said portion of said leg forms part of the temperature detecting element; and a deployment member comprising a wire extending from said distal tip to said proximal portion, configured to move said expandable portion between said first and second state so as to permit deflection of the plurality of legs away from the wire, said wire extending at least between said expandable portion and said proximal portion of said elongated body and wherein said wire is also configured to provide a current to said at least one energy transfer element which when energized alters the bronchus or bronchiole so as to treat asthma. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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Specification