Systems, assemblies, and methods for treating a bronchial tree
First Claim
1. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:
- moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree; and
at least partially denervating a portion of the bronchial tree by damaging substantially all nerve trunks extending along a tubular section of the airway using the intraluminal device so as to prevent substantially all nervous system signals transmitted along the airway from traveling past the denervated portion to a higher generation airway.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
783 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:
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moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree; and at least partially denervating a portion of the bronchial tree by damaging substantially all nerve trunks extending along a tubular section of the airway using the intraluminal device so as to prevent substantially all nervous system signals transmitted along the airway from traveling past the denervated portion to a higher generation airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:
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moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree; and damaging nerve tissue in a portion of the bronchial tree using the intraluminal device while inhibiting damage to smooth muscle in a wall of the airway between the intraluminal, device and the nerve tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of treating a lung comprising:
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positioning an intraluminal device in a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree; and damaging a section of nerve tissue at a treatment site along the airway using the intraluminal device to substantially prevent nervous system signals from traveling to a higher generation airway of the bronchial tree distally of the treatment site whereby resistance to airflow in the bronchial tree distally of the treatment site is decreased. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification