SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE

• US 20120316559A1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvaira, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovative Pulmonary Solutions, Incorporated
• Inventors: Mayse, Martin L., Dimmer, Steven C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• 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 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 : intracavitary

Abstract

Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue.

Claims

1. A catheter, comprising:

an elongated body through which a coolant is capable of flowing;

an electrode configured to output energy to ablate nerve tissue in an airway wall of a bronchial tree; and

an expandable balloon having a collapsed state and an expanded state, wherein the expandable balloon in the expanded state is dimensioned to contact the airway wall of the bronchial tree, wherein the expandable balloon is coupled to the elongated body and configured to contain the coolant such that the coolant cools the electrode and expandable balloon when the catheter is in contact with the airway wall to limit or prevent damage to tissue between the electrode and the nerve tissue,

wherein the electrode is coupled to the expandable balloon such that the electrode is moved towards the airway wall as the expandable balloon moves from the collapsed state to the expanded state,

wherein the electrode is configured to output a sufficient amount of energy to ablate a portion of a nerve trunk extending along the bronchial tree to attenuate nervous system signals transmitted to a portion of the bronchial tree while the expandable balloon is in the expanded state, and wherein the expandable balloon is configured to absorb thermal energy from the airway wall to limit or prevent damage to the tissue between the electrode and the nerve tissue, and

wherein the elongated body includes an inflow lumen which is coupled to a coolant inlet proximate to one end of the expandable balloon, wherein the elongated body further includes an outflow lumen which is coupled to a coolant outlet at another end of the expandable balloon such that the coolant circulates within the expandable balloon when the coolant flows through the inflow lumen, the coolant inlet, the coolant outlet, and the outflow lumen.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode extends circumferentially about the expandable balloon.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode is positioned outside of the expandable balloon such that the electrode is capable of outputting energy directly to the airway wall.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode is embedded in a wall of the expandable balloon.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode is coupled to an exterior surface of the expandable balloon or an interior surface of the expandable balloon.

6. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrodes coupled to the expandable balloon and configured to output energy.

7. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasound probe capable of outputting ultrasound energy through a wall of the expandable balloon for imaging.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode and the expandable balloon are configured to raise the temperature of the nerve tissue to cause cell death of the nerve tissue while maintaining temperature of the other tissue below a temperature at which cell death Occurs.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode and the expandable balloon are configured to cooperate to raise the temperature of tissue at a depth of 2 mm to 8 mm in the airway wall to cause cell death, while maintaining tissues at a depth less than 2 mm in the airway wall at a temperature below a temperature at which cell death occurs.

10. A system comprising:

the catheter of claim 1;

a coolant source coupled to the catheter of claim 1, and

a radiofrequency generator coupled to the catheter of claim 1;

wherein the coolant source is configured to deliver coolant to the expandable balloon and the radiofrequency generator is configured to deliver energy to the electrode to concentrate heating in outer layers of the airway wall.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the coolant source is configured to output a low temperature coolant that absorbs thermal energy to cool tissue contacting the expandable balloon.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a bronchoscope having a delivery lumen for receiving the catheter of claim 1.