Methods of treating inflammation in airways

• US 8,733,367 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• 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., Kaplan, Gary, Shriner, Kelly M.
• Primary Examiner(s): IWAMAYE, ANDREW MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/852,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 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 treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway having a wall, the method comprising:

advancing an expandable portion of an energy delivery device to a first location on the wall, wherein the energy delivery device includes a plurality of electrodes on the expandable portion;

actuating the expandable portion at the first location on the wall and delivering thermal energy to tissue at the first location on the wall;

manipulating the energy delivery device to position the expandable portion of the energy delivery device at a second location on the wall, wherein the second location on the wall is longitudinally spaced from the first location on the wall; and

actuating the expandable portion at the second location on the wall and delivering thermal energy to tissue at the second location on the wall, wherein delivering thermal energy to tissue at one or both of the first and second locations on the wall reduces an ability of the airway to constrict in response to a stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy to tissue at the first location on the wall includes causing a change in the tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy to tissue at the first location on the wall includes causing trauma to the tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing an introduction sheath into an airway of the lung, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to be advanced to the first location on the wall through the introduction sheath.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one of the introduction sheath or the energy delivery device includes a visualization system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating a plurality of locations on the wall, and selecting the first and second locations on the wall from the plurality of locations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising stabilizing the temperature of tissue adjacent at least one of the first or second locations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein stabilizing the temperature includes reducing the temperature of tissue near one of the first or second locations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device includes a bipolar energy delivery device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring impedance of tissue at one or both of the first or second locations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one energy delivery parameter is adjusted based on the monitored impedance.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the energy delivery device includes an electrode configured to both deliver energy and monitor impedance.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an effect of delivering energy to at least one of the first and second locations on the wall.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising reversing an effect caused by delivering energy to tissue at one or both of the first and second locations on the wall.

15. A method for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway having a wall, the method comprising:

locating a plurality of treatment locations on the wall;

advancing an expandable portion of an energy delivery device to a first treatment location of the plurality of treatment locations, wherein the energy delivery device includes at least one electrode on the expandable portion;

actuating the expandable portion of the energy delivery device at the first treatment location on the wall and delivering thermal energy to tissue at the first treatment location on the wall;

manipulating the energy delivery device to position the expandable portion of the energy delivery device at another treatment location of the plurality of treatment locations, wherein the another treatment location is adjacent the first treatment location;

actuating the expandable portion of the energy delivery device at the another treatment location on the wall and delivering thermal energy to tissue at the another treatment location on the wall; and

repeating the steps of manipulating the energy delivery device to position the energy delivery device at another treatment location of the plurality of treatment locations and actuating the expandable portion of the energy delivery device at the another treatment location on the wall and delivering thermal energy to tissue at the another treatment location on the wall, so that energy is delivered to a length of the airway in a pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising stimulating the lung to produce at least one artificially induced symptom of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to deliver energy and monitor impedance.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the tissue includes smooth muscle.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising stabilizing the temperature of tissue adjacent at least one of the plurality of treatment locations.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein stabilizing the temperature includes reducing the temperature adjacent at least one of the plurality of treatment locations.