Method and apparatus for treatment of pulmonary conditions

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves, ablating smooth muscle, ablating goblet cells or performing lung volume reduction in a mammalian subject to treat asthma and COPD. An ultrasonic transducer is inserted into the bronchus as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter bearing the transducer into the bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume as, for example, at least about 1 cm3 encompassing the bronchus to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction, ablate smooth muscle, ablate goblet cells or remodel emphysematous tissue but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the surrounding healthy tissues.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.