Granted Patent B2

US 9,027,564 · App. 13/891,959 · Granted May 12, 2015

Inventors: Christopher J. Danek (Santa Clara, CA); Bryan E. Loomas (Los Gatos, CA); Thomas M. Keast (Mountain View, CA); Michael D. Laufer (Menlo Park, CA)

Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc.

A61N5/00A61B18/08A61B18/1492A61B2017/003A61B2018/00083A61B2018/00214A61B2018/0022A61B2018/00267A61B2018/00541A61B2018/00654A61B2018/00666A61B2018/00678A61B2018/00761A61B2018/00791A61B2018/00797A61B2018/00803A61B2019/5217A61M25/0043A61M29/00A61M29/02A61M2025/0096A61M2210/1039A61N1/06A61N1/403A61B18/02A61B18/18A61B2018/00434

Abstract

Claims (15)

1. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:

moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of the bronchial tree, the intraluminal device comprising an expandable member and an energy emitter; and

damaging nerves along the airway by applying energy to the nerves from the energy emitter without destroying an inner surface of an airway wall disposed radially between the intraluminal device and the nerves, wherein damaging nerves along the airway comprises damaging nerve tissue adjacent to the airway wall.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein damaging nerves along the airway comprises damaging nerve tissue at a position that is within at least one of the left and right lung of the subject.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the airway comprises a bronchus.

4. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:

moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of the bronchial tree, the intraluminal device comprising an expandable member and an energy emitter; and

damaging nerves along the airway by applying energy to the nerves from the energy emitter without destroying an inner surface of an airway wall disposed radially between the intraluminal device and the nerves, wherein damaging nerves along the airway includes damaging nerve tissue extending along a tubular section of the airway wall so as to prevent nervous system signals transmitted along the airway wall from traveling past the damaged portion.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein damaging nerves along the airway comprises damaging at least one nerve at a position that is within a left lung or a right lung.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein damaging nerves along the airway comprises damaging nerve tissue adjacent to the airway wall.

7. A method for decreasing resistance to airflow within a bronchial tree of a subject, the method comprising:

moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of the bronchial tree, the intraluminal device comprising an expandable member and an energy emitter; and

damaging nerves along the airway by applying energy to the nerves from the energy emitter without irreversibly damaging an inner surface of an airway wall disposed radially between the intraluminal device and the nerves, wherein the airway comprises a bronchus.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein damaging nerves along the airway comprises damaging at least one nerve at a position that is within a left lung or a right lung.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein damaging nerves along the airway includes damaging nerve tissue extending along a tubular section of the airway wall so as to prevent nervous system signals transmitted along the airway wall from traveling past the damaged portion.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (10)