System and method for pulmonary treatment

A method for pulmonary treatment, comprising:

• positioning at least one energy delivery element through at least a portion of the trachea into an airway adjacent a treatment site to be treated;
• delivering energy from said at least one element to a portion of the circumference of the airway at said treatment site;
• and
• cooling tissues of an esophagus to prevent damage of the tissues of the esophagus while the energy is delivered.

A method of pulmonary treatment comprising:

• positioning an elongate member through at least a portion of the trachea into an airway, the elongate member having a treatment element and an sensor coupled thereto;
• sensing a first tissue characteristic using the sensor with the treatment element at a first airway location;
• comparing the first tissue characteristic to a reference value to evaluate the location of the treatment element in the airway;
• and
• activating the treatment element to treat the airway.

An apparatus for pulmonary treatment comprising:

• an elongate member insertable through a trachea into an airway;
• an active electrode coupled to the elongate member and configured to deliver energy to target tissue in a wall of the airway.
• a return electrode positionable in the airway or the esophagus and configured to receive the energy from the target tissue;
• and
• a protection member configured to cool non-target tissue proximate to the target tissue.

A method of pulmonary treatment comprising:

• inserting an elongate member through at least a portion of a trachea such that an energy delivery element coupled to the elongate member is positioned at a treatment site in an airway;
• delivering energy at a first power level from an active portion of the energy delivery element to create a first lesion covering a first portion of a circumference of the airway;
• moving the energy delivery element;
• and
• delivering energy at a second power level from the active portion of the energy delivery element to create a second lesion covering a second portion of the circumference of the airway displaced from the first portion;
• wherein the first power level is substantially greater than the second power level.

A method of pulmonary treatment comprising:

• positioning an energy delivery element in an airway of a subject;
• non-inflatably moving the energy delivery element into engagement with a wall of the airway;
• delivering energy from the energy delivery element to the wall of the airway to alter target nerve tissue therein or proximate thereto;
• and
• introducing a cooling medium into the airway into direct contact with the wall to absorb heat from the wall while delivering the energy.