Methods for treating airways

• US 9,358,024 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Danek, Christopher James, Biggs, Michael, Loomas, Bryan E., Laufer, Michael D., Kaplan, Gary, Shriner, Kelly M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Howie
• Application Number:
  US13/894,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 31, 128/898
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• 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 2017/242 for bronchial passages
• 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 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• 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 airway of a lung having at least one symptom of obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising:

delivering radiofrequency energy from a treatment device to damage an airway wall of the airway, the treatment device including an expandable balloon having only one radiofrequency electrode disposed on an outer surface of the balloon, wherein the only one radiofrequency electrode extends around the outer surface of the balloon for less than an entirety of a circumference of the outer surface of the balloon; and

using fluid to cool tissue of the airway that is proximal, distal, or circumferentially adjacent to the airway wall.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using fluid to cool the tissue includes injecting fluid into the airway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein using fluid to cool the tissue prevents destruction of epithelium from the radiofrequency energy delivered.

4. The method of claim 1, further including placing a visualization system into the airway.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the visualization system is an endoscope or a bronchoscope.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising inserting the treatment device through the visualization system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein damaging the airway wall reduces the ability of the airway to contract.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering radiofrequency energy includes delivering radiofrequency energy for 0.1 to 600 seconds.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering radiofrequency energy includes delivering radiofrequency energy at a power of 1 to 25 watts.

7. A method of treating an airway of a lung having at least one symptom of obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising:

delivering radiofrequency energy from a treatment device to damage a treatment site of the airway, wherein the treatment site includes an airway wall defining the airway, and the treatment device includes;

only one electrode that extends around an outer perimeter of the treatment device for less than an entirety of the outer perimeter of the treatment device, the only one electrode including an exposed electrically conductive portion extending from a first end toward a second end;

a first nonconductive tubing coupled to the first end of the electrically conductive portion;

a second nonconductive tubing coupled to the second end of the electrically conductive portion; and

a biasing member coupled to the only one electrode, the biasing member being configured to position the only one electrode against the airway wall; and

reducing the temperature of tissue adjacent to the treatment site, via a fluid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein reducing the temperature of tissue includes injecting the fluid into the airway.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein reducing the temperature of the tissue prevents destruction of epithelium from the radiofrequency energy delivered.

10. The method of claim 7, further including placing a visualization system into the airway.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the visualization system is an endoscope or a bronchoscope.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the treatment device through the visualization system.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein damaging the treatment site reduces the ability of the airway to contract.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the biasing members includes an expandable balloon.

17. A method of treating an airway of a lung having at least one symptom of obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising:

inflating an expandable balloon by delivering fluid through a lumen disposed proximally of the balloon;

delivering radiofrequency energy from a power source to only one radiofrequency electrode disposed on an outer surface of the expandable balloon via a lead, the radiofrequency electrode extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the balloon for less than an entirety of the circumference of the outer surface of the balloon;

delivering radiofrequency energy from the radiofrequency electrode to damage an airway wall of the airway to reduce the ability of the airway to contract, wherein the radiofrequency energy is delivered for 0.1 to 600 seconds at a power from 1 to 25 watts; and

using fluid to cool tissue of the airway that is proximal, distal, or circumferentially adjacent to the airway wall.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein using fluid to cool the tissue includes injecting fluid into the airway.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein using fluid to cool the tissue prevents destruction of epithelium from the radiofrequency energy delivered.