Systems, assemblies, and methods for treating a bronchial tree

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a patient, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated support configured to be passed through a lumen of a scope;
• a compliant inflatable member attached to the elongated support, the inflatable member being configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• a flexible conductive element carried by the inflatable member, wherein the flexible conductive element extends along a path and is configured to expand and contract longitudinally relative to the path as the inflatable member moves between the expanded and collapsed configurations.

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a patient, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated support configured to be passed through a lumen of a scope;
• a compliant inflatable member attached to the elongated support, the compliant inflatable member being configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration through a range of diameters of at least approximately 2 mm to 10 mm;
• and
• an expandable electrode carried by the inflatable member, wherein the expandable electrode comprises a binder and a conductive material dispersed in the binder.

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a patient, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated support configured to be passed through a lumen of a scope;
• a compliant inflatable member attached to the elongated support, wherein the inflatable member is configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• a stretchable electrode deposited directly on the inflatable member, wherein the stretchable electrode is configured to increase in length as the inflatable member moves from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

An energy delivery device for use in a body passageway, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• and
• an energy delivery unit at the distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the energy delivery unit comprises:
• a compliant inflatable member moveable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• one or more elongatable conductive elements disposed on an outer surface of the inflatable member, wherein the one or more conductive elements are positioned to contact a treatment area within the passageway when the inflatable member is in the expanded configuration.

A method for treating asthma, the method comprising:

• inserting an energy delivery unit into an airway in a lung of a patient, the energy delivery unit including a compliant inflatable member attached to a distal portion of an elongated support and a flexible conductive element carried by the inflatable member, wherein the flexible conductive element is configured to expand and contract with the inflatable member as the inflatable member moves between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• expanding the inflatable member such that the flexible conductive element contacts a wall of the airway;
• and
• delivering RF energy to the wall of the airway via the flexible conductive element in a bipolar manner.

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a subject, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated shaft configured to be passed through a lumen of a delivery assembly;
• an inflatable expandable member coupled to the elongated shaft, the inflatable expandable member being configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• a flexible conductive element carried by the inflatable expandable member, wherein the flexible conductive element extends along a path and is configured to expand and contract longitudinally relative to the path as the inflatable expandable member moves between the expanded and collapsed configurations.

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a patient, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated shaft configured to be passed through a lumen of a delivery assembly;
• an inflatable distensible member coupled to the elongated shaft, the inflatable distensible member being configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration through a range of diameters;
• and
• an expandable electrode carried by the inflatable distensible member, wherein the expandable electrode comprises a first material and a conductive material disposed in the first material;
• wherein the range of diameters in sufficient to bring the electrode in contact with or proximate to an airway wall when positioned in the airway.

An energy delivery device for treating an airway in a patient, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated shaft configured to be passed through a lumen of a delivery assembly;
• an inflatable distensible member coupled to the elongated shaft, wherein the inflatable distensible member is configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• a resilient electrode disposed directly on the inflatable distensible member, wherein the resilient electrode is configured to increase in length as the inflatable distensible member moves from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

An energy delivery device for use in a body passageway, the energy delivery device comprising:

• an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• and
• an energy delivery assembly at the distal portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the energy delivery assembly comprises:
• an inflatable distensible member moveable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• one or more expandable conductive elements disposed on an outer surface of the inflatable distensible member, wherein the one or more expandable conductive elements are positioned to contact a treatment area within the passageway when the distensible member is in the expanded configuration.

A method for treating asthma, the method comprising:

• inserting an energy delivery assembly into an airway in a lung of a patient, the energy delivery assembly including an inflatable expandable member coupled to a distal portion of an elongated shaft and a flexible conductive element carried by the inflatable expandable member, wherein the flexible conductive element is configured to expand and contract with the inflatable expandable member as the inflatable expandable member moves between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• expanding the inflatable expandable member such that the flexible conductive element contacts a wall of the airway;
• and
• delivering RF energy to the wall of the airway via the flexible conductive element in a bipolar manner.