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US 2006/0142672 A1Published application
Devices for applying energy to tissue
AssigneeBroncus Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas Keast, Christopher Willink, Ed Roschak, Dave Haugaard, David Thompson
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are devices for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More particularly, devices are disclosed to produce collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs.
Claims18
A medical device for applying energy to tissue, the medical device comprising:
- a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a transducer assembly comprising having at least one transducer having a first and second pole;
- wherein said transducer assembly is located towards a distal end of said elongate member distal portion;
- at least two conducting members extending through at least a portion of said elongate member and in electrical contact with the first and second poles respectively,;
- a hollow member located at the distal end of said elongate member, the hollow adapted to mechanically cut tissue;
- and
- a rounded tip configured to avoid damage to tissue and located at a distal end of said elongate member distal portion and having a front and back surface, said back surface being in acoustical communication with said transducer such that said tip is adapted to communicate a source signal from said transducer out through said front surface, said tip also being adapted to communicate a reflected signal from said front surface to said transducer assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.