# US 6,488,673 B1 · Method of increasing gas exchange of a lung > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,488,673 B1 - Document ID: US6488673B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/349,715 - Filed: 1999-07-08 - Granted: 2002-12-03 - Earliest claimed: 1997-04-07 - Assignees: Broncus Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Michael D. Laufer; David P. Thompson; Bryan E. Loomas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6488673B1 ## CPC - A61M 29/02: Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)} - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61M 25/0043: {characterised by structural features} - A61N 1/06: for high-frequency therapy - A61N 1/403: {for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia} - A61B 18/08: by means of electrically-heated probes - A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/22062: {to be filled with liquid} - A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon} - A61B 2018/00541: {Lung or bronchi} - A61B 2018/044: {the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid} - A61B 2018/046: {in liquid form} - A61B 2018/1407: {Loop} - A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation} - A61M 2025/0096: {being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres} - A61M 2210/1039: Lungs - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging lung cells with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway so as to increase gas exchange performed by the lung. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said damaging of lung cells to cause fibrosis includes damaging cells of smooth muscle tissue in the lung. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said damaging lung cells to cause fibrosis increases the thickness of a wall of the airway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to damage the lung cells. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung comprises inserting a plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein said electrodes form a basket shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a wire coated with an insulating material except at points where the electrode contacts said airway. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging tissue in the lung with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the damaging of tissue includes damaging lung cells with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the damaging of tissue destroys smooth muscle tone of the airway to increase gas exchange performed by the lung. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said damaging of lung cells to cause fibrosis also destroys smooth muscle tone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said damaging tissue to increase gas exchange increases the thickness of a wall of the airway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to damage the tissue. ### Claim 14 A method of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway, said causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus being at least one of: heating the tissue; cooling the tissue; delivering a liquid that causes trauma to the tissue; delivering a gas that causes trauma to the tissue; puncturing the tissue; tearing the tissue; cutting the tissue; applying ultrasound to the tissue; and applying ionizing radiation to the tissue. ### Claim 15 A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to destroy the airway smooth muscle tone. ### Claim 17 A method of increasing gas exchange performed by a lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging airway tissue with the apparatus to thicken a wall of the airway.