Bronchial stenter

• US 6,200,333 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Broncus Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Laufer, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/224,937
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/98, 607/101, 607/102, 607/113, 607/124, 606/15, 606/28, 606/31
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• 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: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

A device and method for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are provided. The device includes an elongated member having a heating element that includes one or more energy delivery members. The method includes heating the bronchial tube to cause the wall of the tube to undergo a structural transformation similar to scarring whereby new connective tissue is formed. The procedure effectively reinforces the structural integrity of the wall and thereby prevents the lumen from collapsing.

Claims

1. A method of treating a bronchial tube having a collapsed or partially collapsed lumen of an individual that comprises the step of:

heating a wall of the bronchial tube to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein heating forms a treated bronchial tube that is patent.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall is heated to a temperature in the range between about 40°

C. and about 95°

C.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the wall is heated for about 1 to about 120 seconds.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises:

advancing a treatment device into the lumen of the bronchial tube of the individual;

energizing the treatment device to raise the temperature of the wall to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises raising the temperature of the wall to an elevated temperature in the range of about 40°

C. to about 95°

C.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the wall is heated at the elevated temperature for about 1 to about 120 seconds.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the treatment device comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end and a heating element that is positioned at the distal end and that comprises one or more energy delivery members which when energized causes the wall to undergo a structural transformation to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen;

and a source of energy that is conducted to the heating element.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more energy delivery members each comprise an electrode band being spaced apart from an adjacent electrode band.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the elongated member comprises a segment that is made of an elastic material and wherein the one or more energy delivery members are positioned on the surface of the segment.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more energy delivery members comprise one or more sets of double electrode bands wherein each set comprises a first electrode which is connected to the positive electrode of an RF generator and a second electrode which is connected to the negative electrode of the RF generator.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more energy delivery members emit light energy.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the elongated member comprises a conduit that channels fluid into the one or more energy delivery members.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein a segment of the elongated member comprises an elastic material that is radially expandable, wherein the one or more electrodes that comprise non-ferrous material are positioned on a surface of the segment, and wherein the treatment device further comprises an electromagnet located in an interior region of said segment.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the distal end of the elongated member comprises a segment that is pleated, wherein the one or more energy delivery members comprising non-ferrous material are positioned on an outer surface of the segment, and wherein the treating device further comprises an electromagnet located in an interior region of said segment.

16. The method of claim 8 whereby heating the wall causes the wall to form one or more patency bands that prevent the lumen from collapsing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each patency band has a contour substantially resulting from the effect of one or more of the energy delivery members.

18. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of de-energizing the heating device and thereafter removing the heating device from the bronchial tube.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of de-energizing is initiated in response to signals indicating that the structural transformation has reached a desired level.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein heating the inner wall causes the inner wall to form a pattern that prevents the lumen from collapsing.

21. A method of training a person to treat a bronchial tube of an individual that has a collapsed or partially collapsed lumen that comprises demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following steps:

heating a wall of the bronchial tube to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein heating forms a treated bronchial tube that is patent.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the inner wall is heated to a temperature in the range between about 40°

C. and about 95°

C.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the wall is heated for about 1 to about 120 seconds.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises:

advancing a treatment device into the lumen of the bronchial tube of the individual;

energizing the treatment device to raise the temperature of the wall to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises raising the temperature of the wall to an elevated temperature in the range of about 40°

C. to about 95°

C.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the wall is heated at the elevated temperature for about 1 to about 120 seconds.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the treatment device comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end and a heating element that is positioned at the distal end and that comprises one or more energy delivery members of sufficient width so that when energized causes the wall to undergo a structural transformation to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen;

and a source of energy that is conducted to the heating element.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the one or more energy delivery members each comprises an electrode band being spaced apart from an adjacent electrode band.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the elongated member comprises a segment that is made of an elastic material and wherein the one or more energy delivery members are positioned on the surface of the segment.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the one or more energy delivery members comprise one or more sets of double electrode bands wherein each set comprises a first electrode which is connected to the positive electrode of an RF generator and a second electrode which is connected to the negative electrode of the RF generator.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the one or more energy delivery members emit light energy.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the elongated member comprises a conduit that channels fluid into the one or more energy delivery members.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein a segment of the elongated member comprises an elastic material that is radially expandable, wherein the one or more energy delivery members comprising non-ferrous material are positioned on an outer surface of the segment, and wherein the treatment device further comprises an electromagnet located in an interior region of said segment.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the distal end of the elongated member comprises a segment that is pleated, wherein the one or more energy delivery members comprising non-ferrous material are positioned on an outer surface of the segment, and wherein the treating device further comprises an electromagnet located in an interior region of said segment.

36. The method of claim 28 wherein heating the wall causes the wall to form one or more patency bands that prevent the lumen from collapsing.

37. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of de-energizing the treatment device and thereafter removing the treatment device from the bronchial tube.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of de-energizing is initiated in response to signals indicating that the structural transformation has reached a desired level.