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Systems and methods for delivering energy to passageways in a patient

  • US 8,235,983 B2
  • Filed: 07/12/2007
  • Issued: 08/07/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of treating tissue in an internal passageway in a patient, comprising:

  • positioning an access device in a lung airway of a patient;

    advancing an elongated body of a treatment device along the access device until an energy delivery unit at a distal portion of the elongated body projects from the access device;

    expanding the energy delivery unit in response to input from an operator such that energy delivery elements contact a sidewall of the airway; and

    activating an energy supply coupled to the treatment device such that energy is delivered to the sidewall of the airway, wherein a single person physically operates both the access device and the treatment device while expanding the energy delivery unit and activating the energy supply;

    wherein advancing the elongated body comprises holding the elongated body with a distal phalanx of a thumb and a distal phalanx of a forefinger of one hand of the single person while pushing the elongated body through a working lumen of the access device; and

    expanding the energy delivery unit comprises moving an actuator with one of a second-fourth finger of the one hand of the single person, wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the energy delivery unit.

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