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US 7,273,055 B2Granted
Methods of treating asthma
AssigneeAsthmatx, Inc.
InventorsChristopher James Danek, Michael Biggs, Bryan Loomas, Michael D. Laufer, Gary Kaplan, Kelly Shriner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.
Claims11
A method for treating an asthmatic lung, comprising;
- advancing a device into an asthmatic lung;
- locating a treatment site within an airway of the lung;
- treating an airway wall of the lung with the device by exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding the airway to energy from the device to cause a structural change in the smooth muscle tissue so as to reduce the ability of the smooth muscle to contract;
- and
- reducing or stabilizing a temperature of lung tissue adjacent to the treatment site.
2 more elements
A method for treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
- advancing a device into an asthmatic lung;
- and treating the lung with the device by exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding an airway to energy from the device to cause a structural change in the smooth muscle tissue so as to reduce the ability of the smooth muscle to contract, wherein treating the lung comprises treating the lung in stages to reduce a healing load on the lung.
A method for treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
- inserting a visualization system in an asthmatic lung, where the visualization system comprises an endoscope or bronchoscope;
- advancing a device into the lung;
- and
- treating the lung with the device by exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding an airway to energy from the device to cause a structural change in the smooth muscle tissue so as to reduce the ability of the smooth muscle to contract.
1 more element
A method for treating an asthmatic lung, comprising:
- advancing a device into an asthmatic lung;
- and
- treating the lung with the device by exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding an airway to energy horn the device to cause a structural change in the smooth muscle tissue so as to reduce the ability of the smooth muscle to contract, wherein exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding the airway to energy from the device comprises heating an airway wall to a pre-determined temperature up to 90° C.
A method for treating an asthmatic lung,comprising:
- advancing a device into an asthmatic lung;
- and
- treating the lung with the device by exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding an airway to energy from the device to cause a structural in the smooth muscle tissue so as to reduce the ability of the smooth muscle to contract, wherein exposing smooth muscle tissue surrounding the airway to energy from the device comprises applying radio frequency energy to an airway wall to heat the airway wall to a pre-determined temperature up to 90° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.