Method for performing lung volume reduction

• US 8,313,485 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsunami MedTech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tsunami MedTech, LLC
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy
• Application Number:
  US12/255,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 29, 606/41, 606/46, 607/96, 607/105, 607/107, 604/20, 604/113
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0041 Removal of thrombosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

This invention relates to surgical instruments for applying energy to tissue. In one embodiment, an elongated introducer has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid under pressure. An energy source causes a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the introducer. The flow of vapor is controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure, a selected volume of vapor, and an optional aspiration of vapor condensate. Contemporaneous with tissue contact, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the targeted tissue. In one embodiment, the system is configured for volumetric removal of tissue by means of high velocity ejection of a vapor media from a first vapor port proximate to soft tissue wherein the vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies energy to the tissue. The system provides a second port coupled to a suction source that cooperates with the first vapor port to suction tissue debris from the targeted site.

Claims

1. A method of performing lung volume reduction on a patient, the method comprising:

delivering vapor to an airway of the patient to heat airway tissue; and

causing lung volume reduction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the causing step comprises collapsing the airway.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering superheated vapor to the airway.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor comprises water vapor.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising vaporizing liquid water prior to the delivering step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises inserting a working end of a vapor introduction tool into the airway.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the vapor introduction tool comprises a flexible catheter.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the vapor introduction tool comprises a rigid introducer.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the delivering step comprises vaporizing a fluid proximal to the working end.