NON-INVASIVE AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE DENERVATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- providing an instrument to a user, the instrument including an energy emitter positioned at a distal section of the instrument; and
providing instructions to the user, the instructions comprising;
moving the energy emitter through the skin of a subject;
wrapping the distal section of the instrument around an airway of the bronchial tree of the subject to position the energy emitter with respect to nerve tissue along the airway of the bronchial tree;
energizing the energy emitter to damage the nerve tissue using energy from the energy emitter while the energy emitter is positioned outside of the airway; and
removing the instrument from the subject.
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Abstract
A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing an instrument to a user, the instrument including an energy emitter positioned at a distal section of the instrument; and providing instructions to the user, the instructions comprising; moving the energy emitter through the skin of a subject; wrapping the distal section of the instrument around an airway of the bronchial tree of the subject to position the energy emitter with respect to nerve tissue along the airway of the bronchial tree; energizing the energy emitter to damage the nerve tissue using energy from the energy emitter while the energy emitter is positioned outside of the airway; and removing the instrument from the subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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providing an instrument to a user; and providing instructions to the user, the instructions comprising; percutaneously delivering a distal section of the instrument through the skin of a subject and wrapping the distal section of the instrument around an airway of a bronchial tree of the subject such that the distal section is positioned to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree; and delivering energy to a first portion of the bronchial tree using the instrument to substantially inhibit nervous system signals from traveling to a second portion of the bronchial tree. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification