# US 11,304,746 B2 · Method of treating airway tissue to reduce mucus secretion

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- Number: US 11,304,746 B2
- Document ID: US11304746B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/815,717
- Filed: 2020-03-11
- Published: 2020-07-02
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-14
- Assignees: Aerin Medical Inc.
- Applicants: Aerin Medical Inc.
- Inventors: Scott J. Wolf; Andrew Frazier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304746B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/1485: {having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings}
- A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques
- A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor}
- A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps}
- A61B 18/16: Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
- A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves}
- A61B 18/20: using laser
- A61F 5/08: Devices for correcting deformities of the nose {; Devices for enlarging the nostril, e.g. for breathing improvement}
- A61M 25/0084: {being one or more injection needles}
- A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00})
- A61N 7/022: {intracavitary}
- A61B 2018/00005: {Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe}
- A61B 2018/00023: {closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid}
- A61B 2018/0016: {Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array}
- A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon}
- A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons}
- A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors}
- A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple}
- A61B 2018/00827: {Current}
- A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance}
- A61B 2018/00892: {Voltage}
- A61B 2018/00922: {by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece}
- A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound}
- A61B 2018/0225: {using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps}
- A61B 2018/0293: {using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle}
- A61B 2018/124: {switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially}
- A61B 2018/1425: {Needle}
- A61B 2018/143: {multiple needles}
- A61B 2018/1465: {Deformable electrodes}
- A61B 2018/1497: {Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference}
- A61B 2018/1869: {with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles}
- A61M 2025/0091: {the single injection needle being fixed}
- A61M 2025/105: {having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for treating mucus producing cells in an airway of a patient to reduce mucus secretion, the method comprising:
advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril and thus into the airway of the patient;
contacting mucosal tissue of the airway with the treatment delivery portion, without piercing the mucosal tissue; and
delivering energy from the treatment delivery portion to a selected tissue depth to modify at least one property of the mucus producing cells and thus reduce mucus secretion in the airway.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering a form of energy selected from the group consisting of heat, radiofrequency, laser, light, ultrasound, microwave, electromechanical, mechanical, cooling, alternating current, direct current, chemical, electrochemical, and cryogenic energy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the mucus producing cells are selected from the group consisting of cilia, goblet cells, and submucosal cells.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the energy comprises delivering radiofrequency energy from a first row of bipolar electrodes to a second row of bipolar electrodes on the treatment delivery portion, wherein each electrode of the first row of electrodes is paired with a corresponding electrode of the second row of electrodes, so that the two rows of bipolar radiofrequency electrodes form multiple electrode pairs, and wherein delivering the radiofrequency energy comprises delivering radiofrequency energy between the multiple electrode pairs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein at least part of a treatment surface of the treatment delivery portion is convex, and wherein delivering the radiofrequency energy comprises delivering the radiofrequency energy in a convex shape from the first row to the second row of bipolar electrodes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the electrodes of the two rows of bipolar electrodes comprise non-piercing bumps on the treatment surface, and wherein contacting the mucosal tissue comprises contacting the non-piercing bumps with the mucosal tissue.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring a temperature of the mucosal tissue using a thermocouple located on the treatment delivery portion; and
adjusting an amount of energy delivered by the treatment delivery portion, based on the measured temperature, by adjusting a setting of the treatment device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising applying force against the mucosal tissue with the treatment delivery portion to mechanically alter a shape of the airway while delivering the energy.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein a treatment surface of the treatment delivery portion is convex.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the energy modifies the at least one property by changing the mucus producing cells to a different type of cells.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a shaft of the treatment device to change an angle of the treatment delivery portion relative to the shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one property modified by delivering the energy comprises the ability of the mucus producing cells to engage in a vesicle-membrane fusion process.