Methods of evaluating individuals having reversible obstructive pulmonary disease

• US 8,464,723 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Danek, Christopher J., Biggs, Michael, Loomas, Bryan E., Laufer, Michael D., Shriner, Kelly, Wizeman, William J., Kaplan, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): IWAMAYE, ANDREW MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/171,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 607/42, 607 96-102, 600/300, 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 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• 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 of treating an individual having reversible obstructive pulmonary disease to reduce an ability of a lung of the individual to produce a reversible obstructive pulmonary disease symptom, the method comprising:

assessing a pulmonary condition of the individual;

comparing the pulmonary condition to a corresponding predetermined state;

evaluating the individual based on the comparing of the pulmonary condition; and

treating an airway of the lung with an energy transfer device, wherein treating the airway comprises;

advancing an energy transfer device into the airway; and

actuating the energy transfer device to effect patterned energy transfer at multiple spaced locations within the airway, wherein the energy transfer alters the ability of the lung to produce the reversible obstructive pulmonary disease symptom.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein treating the airway comprises delivering energy to a wall of the lung airway.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a pulmonary function test on the individual to obtain a pulmonary function value;

comparing the pulmonary function value to a corresponding predetermined pulmonary function value; and

evaluating the individual based upon the comparing.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pulmonary function value comprises a forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow, maximum flow, peak expiratory flow rate, functional residual capacity, residual volume, total lung capacity, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing further comprises determining a subtype of asthma.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a severity of the asthma in the individual.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a trigger that induces the asthma in the individual.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a characteristic feature of an immune system response in the individual having asthma.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing an expression of genes controlling an interleukin in the individual.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising stimulating the lung to produce an artificially induced symptom of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease prior to the assessing the pulmonary condition.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining clinical information from the individual, wherein evaluating further comprises accounting for the clinical information.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining how tissue of the individual will react to treatment, wherein evaluating further comprises accounting for a reaction of tissue to treatment.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising feeding a gas into the lung, wherein the gas has properties which aid in the assessment of the pulmonary condition.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising feeding another gas into the lung, wherein each gas has different properties which aid in the assessment of the pulmonary condition.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the gas comprises helium, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a post-procedure pulmonary condition and comparing the pulmonary condition with the post-procedure pulmonary condition to determine an effect of the treatment procedure.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing further comprises sub-mucosal imaging of the lung airway.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer device is actuated multiple times in a repeating pattern.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising actuating the energy transfer device in a plurality of airways in differing regions of the lung.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of electrically stimulating the lung prior to the treating step.