Method for treating an asthma attack
AssigneeAsthmatx, Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Danek, Bryan Loomas, Thomas Keast, Michael D. Laufer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.
Claims20
1-32. (canceled)
A method for treating a subject, the method comprising:
- damaging nerve tissue of a nerve trunk extending along an airway of a bronchial tree to attenuate nervous system signals transmitted to a portion of the bronchial tree.
A method of treating a subject, the method comprising:
- moving an elongate assembly along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree, the airway including a first tubular section, a second tubular section, a treatment site between the first tubular section and the second tubular section, and a nerve trunk extending along at least the first tubular section, the treatment site, and the second tubular section;
- and
- damaging a portion of the nerve trunk at the treatment site to substantially prevent signals from traveling between the first tubular section and the second tubular section via the nerve trunk.
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 using the intraluminal device without irreversibly damaging to any significant extent an inner surface of the airway, the inner surface defining the lumen.
An elongate assembly for treating a lung, the elongate assembly adapted to damage nerve tissue of a nerve trunk so as to attenuate nervous system signals transmitted to a portion of the bronchial tree while at least a portion of the elongate assembly extends along a lumen of an airway of the bronchial tree.
A system for treating a subject, the system comprising an elongate assembly dimensioned to move along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree, the elongate assembly adapted to attenuate signals transmitted by nerve tissue while not irreversibly damaging to any significant extent an inner surface of the airway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.