# US 11,304,742 B2 · Selective lung tissue ablation

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- Number: US 11,304,742 B2
- Document ID: US11304742B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/590,804
- Filed: 2019-10-02
- Published: 2020-02-06
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2005-08-17
- Assignees: Pulmonx Corporation
- Applicants: Pulmonx Corporation
- Inventors: Peter P. Soltesz; Nikolai Aljuri; Ajit Nair
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304742B2

## CPC

- 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)
- A61B 18/0206: {ultrasonic, e.g. for destroying tissue or enhancing freezing}
- A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor}
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves}
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor}
- A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs}
- A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections}
- A61N 5/1001: {using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy}
- A61N 7/022: {intracavitary}
- A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon}
- A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons}
- A61B 2018/00541: {Lung or bronchi}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00714: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors}
- A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound}
- A61B 2018/0212: {using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter}
- A61B 2018/044: {the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid}
- A61B 2018/1435: {Spiral}
- A61B 2018/144: {Wire}
- A61B 2018/1472: {for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes}
- A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation}
- A61B 2018/1861: {with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

Medical methods and systems are provided for effecting lung volume reduction by selectively ablating segments of lung tissue.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for selectively ablating a treatment site in a lung comprising:
advancing a treatment apparatus through an airway toward the treatment site in the lung;
exchanging energy through the treatment apparatus to heat or cool the treatment site to a level to collapse at least a portion the treatment site; and
protecting adjacent regions in the lung or surrounding tissue from thermal damage by controlling pressure or temperature at one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the tissue is raised to a temperature in the range from 40° C. to 95° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the delivered energy comprises radiofrequency, alternating current, microwave, ultrasound, coherent light, incoherent light, radioisotopes, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising advancing at least one additional treatment apparatus toward the treatment site in the lung region and delivering energy to the treatment site through at least two treatment apparatuses.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising ventilating the patient's other lung.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method as in claim 5, further comprising ventilating untreated region(s) of the lung adjacent to the treated region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising controlling pressure and temperature simultaneously in the treatment site and in the one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site so that thermal damage to the non-targeted sites is minimized.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising introducing an electrically or thermally conducting fluid into the treatment site to improve energy distribution.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method as in claim 8, further comprising deploying isolation barriers to inhibit the conductive fluid from migrating from the treatment site.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, wherein the treatment site comprises an entire lobe of the lung.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the temperature within the treatment site and controlling the energy exchange to maintain a temperature within a desired range.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method as in claim 1, further comprising: testing the patient to determine if the treatment site is subject to collateral ventilation; and ablating the treatment site only if the treatment site is subject to collateral ventilation.