Methods of reducing mucus in airways

• US 8,443,810 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Danek, Christopher James, Biggs, Michael, Loomas, Bryan, Laufer, Michael D., Kaplan, Gary, Shriner, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): IWAMAYE, ANDREW MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/425,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 607 96-102, 606/41
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• 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 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 : with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/044 : the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 : in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 : using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 : using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 : Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 : characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 : Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body

Abstract

This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.

Claims

1. A method for reducing mucus production in an airway of a lung, the method comprising:

positioning an energy transfer device in the airway of the lung, the airway having a wall; and

actuating the energy transfer device multiple times as the energy transfer device is moved along the airway to transfer energy along the length of the airway wall at a plurality of treatment sites to form a repeating pattern of treated segments extending along the length of the airway wall that reduces an ability of the airway tissue to secrete mucus, wherein actuating the energy transfer device is performed in a plurality of airways in different regions of the lung at different times such that an amount of time between treating the different regions of the lung lessens a healing load placed on the lung.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer of energy comprises delivering RF energy to the treatment sites at up to 75°

C. for 5-10 seconds.

3. The method of claim 1, where the transfer of energy reduces an amount of mucus producing cells or glands.

4. The method of claim 1, where the transfer of energy reduces an effectiveness of mucus producing cells or glands.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising preventing replication of mucus producing cells or inhibiting ability of mucus producing cells to secrete mucus.

6. The method of claim 1, where the energy is selected from a modality selected from the group consisting of chemical, radio frequency, radioactive, heat, radiant, laser, microwave, and ultrasound.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuating the energy transfer device multiple times is repeated along the entire length of the airway wall.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the energy transfer device includes an expandable basket having a plurality of electrodes configured to concurrently contact a plurality of points circumferentially around the airway wall;

the energy transfer device is moved along the airway by collapsing the electrodes and repositioning the energy transfer device along the airway; and

the energy is transferred to the plurality of treatment sites by expanding the electrodes at each treatment site such that the electrodes contact the airway wall.

9. The method of claim 8, where the repeating pattern of treated segments is a pattern of one or more spots having a rectangular, elliptical, circular, or other shape.

10. The method of claim 8, where at least one of the treated segments extend longitudinally along the airway wall.

11. The method of claim 8, where the repeating pattern of treated segments is of at least one stripe extending along the airway in a longitudinal or helical pattern.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer of energy reduces an amount of mucus plugging the airway.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer of energy inhibits an ability of airway tissue to secrete excess mucus.