Method of increasing gas exchange of a lung

• US 7,556,624 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Laufer, Michael D., Loomas, Bryan E., Thompson, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bouchelle; Laura A
• Application Number:
  US10/232,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/27, 604/28, 604/77, 604/516, 604/514, 128/898, 607 96- 99, 607/101, 600372-381, 606/41
• US Class Current: 604/514
• 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 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• 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 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway.

Claims

1. A method of treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:

moving an elongated member with an expandable portion through an airway of a lung such that the elongated member is positioned at a plurality of sites spaced apart from each other along the airway;

expanding the expandable portion radially outwardly such that the expandable portion presses against an inner wall of the airway at each site along the airway; and

at least partially destroying airway tissue by applying energy to the airway tissue at each site along the airway such that lung function is improved.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying RF energy to the expandable portion, wherein the expandable portion comprises electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes form a basket shape.

4. A method of treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:

moving an elongated member with an expandable portion through an airway of a lung;

expanding the expandable portion radially outwardly such that the expandable portion presses against an inner wall of the airway, wherein the expandable portion comprises a plurality of elongated electrodes spaced apart from each other and configured to move radially outward; and

applying an energy to airway tissue sufficient to alter the airway such that the airway undergoes a transformation effective to treat asthma.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein applying energy to the airway tissue comprises delivering electrical energy to the tissue.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein applying energy to the airway tissue comprises applying mechanical energy to the tissue.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the expandable portion comprises a balloon and applying the mechanical energy comprises filling the balloon with a fluid so that the balloon presses against the airway.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the expandable portion comprises a basket and applying the mechanical energy comprises expanding the basket to press against the airway.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein applying the mechanical energy comprises dilating the airway tissue.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the transformation effective to treat asthma comprises reducing the ability of the airway to contract.