# US 8,464,723 B2 · Methods of evaluating individuals having reversible obstructive pulmonary disease

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- Number: US 8,464,723 B2
- Document ID: US8464723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/171,345
- Filed: 2011-06-28
- Published: 2011-11-17
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 1998-06-10
- Assignees: Asthmatx, Inc.
- Applicants: Christopher J. Danek; Michael Biggs; Bryan E. Loomas; Michael D. Laufer; Gary S. Kaplan; Kelly Shriner; William J. Wizeman
- Inventors: Christopher J. Danek; Michael Biggs; Bryan E. Loomas; Michael D. Laufer; Gary S. Kaplan; Kelly Shriner; William J. Wizeman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464723B2

## CPC

- 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 18/08: by means of electrically-heated probes
- 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}
- A61M 29/00: Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies
- A61N 5/0601: {Apparatus for use inside the body}
- A61B 17/22004: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves (A61B17/225 takes precedence)}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- A61B 2017/00292: {mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means}
- A61B 2017/003: {Steerable}
- A61B 2017/22062: {to be filled with liquid}
- A61B 2018/00083: {low, i.e. electrically insulating}
- A61B 2018/00214: {Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon}
- A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons}
- A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure}
- A61B 2018/00541: {Lung or bronchi}
- A61B 2018/00654: {with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements}
- A61B 2018/00666: {using a threshold value}
- A61B 2018/00678: {upper}
- A61B 2018/00761: {Duration}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors}
- A61B 2018/00803: {with temperature prediction}
- A61B 2018/044: {the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid}
- A61B 2018/046: {in liquid form}
- A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation}
- A61B 2090/3614: {using optical fibre}
- A61M 2025/0096: {being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres}
- A61M 2210/1039: Lungs
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)}
- 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

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of treating an individual having reversible obstructive pulmonary disease to reduce an ability of a lung of the individual to produce a reversible obstructive pulmonary disease symptom, the method comprising:
assessing a pulmonary condition of the individual;
comparing the pulmonary condition to a corresponding predetermined state;
evaluating the individual based on the comparing of the pulmonary condition; and
treating an airway of the lung with an energy transfer device, wherein treating the airway comprises:
advancing an energy transfer device into the airway; and
actuating the energy transfer device to effect patterned energy transfer at multiple spaced locations within the airway, wherein the energy transfer alters the ability of the lung to produce the reversible obstructive pulmonary disease symptom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein treating the airway comprises delivering energy to a wall of the lung airway.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
performing a pulmonary function test on the individual to obtain a pulmonary function value;
comparing the pulmonary function value to a corresponding predetermined pulmonary function value; and
evaluating the individual based upon the comparing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the pulmonary function value comprises a forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow, maximum flow, peak expiratory flow rate, functional residual capacity, residual volume, total lung capacity, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein assessing further comprises determining a subtype of asthma.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a severity of the asthma in the individual.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a trigger that induces the asthma in the individual.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing a characteristic feature of an immune system response in the individual having asthma.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein determining further comprises assessing an expression of genes controlling an interleukin in the individual.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising stimulating the lung to produce an artificially induced symptom of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease prior to the assessing the pulmonary condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining clinical information from the individual, wherein evaluating further comprises accounting for the clinical information.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining how tissue of the individual will react to treatment, wherein evaluating further comprises accounting for a reaction of tissue to treatment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising feeding a gas into the lung, wherein the gas has properties which aid in the assessment of the pulmonary condition.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising feeding another gas into the lung, wherein each gas has different properties which aid in the assessment of the pulmonary condition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the gas comprises helium, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or an inert gas.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising assessing a post-procedure pulmonary condition and comparing the pulmonary condition with the post-procedure pulmonary condition to determine an effect of the treatment procedure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein assessing further comprises sub-mucosal imaging of the lung airway.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer device is actuated multiple times in a repeating pattern.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising actuating the energy transfer device in a plurality of airways in differing regions of the lung.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of electrically stimulating the lung prior to the treating step.