Method for treating an asthma attack
AssigneeAsthmatx, Inc.
InventorsBryan Loomas, Michael D. Laufer, David P. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 are disclosed. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be accomplished via 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.
Claims20
A method for treating a lung of a patient, the method comprising:
- inserting an energy delivery unit into an airway in the lung, the energy delivery unit including a balloon at a distal portion of an elongated support and an electrode element carried by the balloon, wherein the electrode element is configured to contract and expand with the balloon as the balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
- inflating the balloon such that the electrode element contacts a wall of the airway;
- and
- delivering radio frequency energy to the wall of the airway via the electrode element.
A method for treating a lung of a patient, the method comprising:
- inserting an energy delivery device into an airway in the lung, the energy delivery unit comprising:
- an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween;
- an expandable member extending from a distal portion of the elongate member, wherein the expandable member is configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration;
- and
- an electrode disposed on the expandable member;
- expanding the expandable member such that the electrode is positioned adjacent a wall of the airway;
- and
- delivering energy to the wall of the airway via the electrode.
A method for treating a lung of a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning an expandable member in an airway, the expandable member including at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the electrode extends from a distal portion of an elongate member;
- expanding the expandable member from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration so that the electrode is disposed adjacent a wall of the airway;
- and
- delivering energy to the wall via the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.