Method of increasing gas exchange of a lung
First Claim
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1. A method of treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
- moving an elongated member with an expandable portion through an airway of a lung such that the elongated member is positioned at a plurality of sites spaced apart from each other along the airway;
expanding the expandable portion radially outwardly such that the expandable portion presses against an inner wall of the airway at each site along the airway; and
at least partially destroying airway tissue by applying energy to the airway tissue at each site along the airway such that lung function is improved.
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Abstract
Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
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moving an elongated member with an expandable portion through an airway of a lung such that the elongated member is positioned at a plurality of sites spaced apart from each other along the airway; expanding the expandable portion radially outwardly such that the expandable portion presses against an inner wall of the airway at each site along the airway; and at least partially destroying airway tissue by applying energy to the airway tissue at each site along the airway such that lung function is improved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
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moving an elongated member with an expandable portion through an airway of a lung; expanding the expandable portion radially outwardly such that the expandable portion presses against an inner wall of the airway, wherein the expandable portion comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes spaced apart from each other and configured to move radially outward; and applying an energy to airway tissue sufficient to alter the airway such that the airway undergoes a transformation effective to treat asthma. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification