US6283988B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bronchial stenter having expandable electrodes
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1999-03-01
•
Granted: 2001-09-04
•
Expires: 2019-03-01
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as asthma. The apparatus delivers energy to inductively heat the tissue of the bronchial tube by directing electromagnetic energy into the tissue. The apparatus includes expandable electrodes that come into contact with the walls of the bronchial tubes. The expandable electrodes may be conical-shaped electrodes, loop-shaped electrodes, plate-shaped electrodes, or other shapes. The method includes heating the bronchial tube to cause tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen. The procedure effectively reinforces the structural integrity of the bronchial tube wall and thereby prevents the lumen from collapsing.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Laufer
- 👤 Keith M. Burger
- 👤 Bryan E. Loomas
- 👤 Don A. Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00115; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00541; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B18/18; A61B2018/1807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising the steps of: advancing a treatment apparatus into the lumen of the bronchial tube wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one electrode which when energized causes tissue in a wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen, wherein the at least one electrode is expandable radially outward to contact the wall of the bronchial tube; and activating the treatment apparatus to raise the temperature of the wall to sufficiently effect a structural transformation in the tissue of the wall.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising the steps of: advancing a treatment apparatus into the lumen of the bronchial tube wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one electrode which when energized causes tissue in a wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen, wherein the at least one electrode is expandable radially outward to contact the wall of the bronchial tube; and activating the treatment apparatus to raise the temperature of the wall to sufficiently effect a structural transformation in the tissue of the wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the wall is heated to a temperature of at least 45° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the wall is heated to a temperature in the range between about 70° C. and about 85° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the wall is heated for about 0.1 to about 600 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the wall is heated for about 1 to about 60 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the wall is heated by power losses through the tissue of the bronchial wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one electrode is energized by an alternating current at a radio frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment apparatus is advanced into the lumen of the bronchial tube through the working channel of a steerable endoscope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is resistively heated to treat the tissue of the bronchial wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the treatment apparatus is insulated from surrounding tissue.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising: a tubular member having a lumen; an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member; at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration; the at least one electrode having a proximal end attached to the tubular member and a distal end attached to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, and a contact section between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the contact section is configured such that proximal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the tubular member deflects the contact section of the electrode causing a sharp bend in the contact section and producing movement of the contact section in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft towards the wall of the bronchial tube; and a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising: a tubular member having a lumen; an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member; at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration; the at least one electrode having a proximal end attached to the tubular member and a distal end attached to the distal portion of the elongated shaft, and a contact section between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the contact section is configured such that proximal movement of the elongated shaft relative to the tubular member deflects the contact section of the electrode causing a sharp bend in the contact section and producing movement of the contact section in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft towards the wall of the bronchial tube; and a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each electrode is biased to collapse the contact section radially inward towards the elongated shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the source of energy produces energy that is selected from the group consisting of RF energy, alternating current, microwaves, and combinations thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode is connected to a positive lead of a RF generator and the second electrode is connected to a negative lead of the RF generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first electrode is electrically insulated from the second electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one electrode comprises at least four electrodes.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising: a tubular member having a lumen; an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member; at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration; wherein each electrode comprises a plurality of opposing portions having a first end attached to the elongated shaft and a second free end, said electrode being expandable in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft to assume an expanded shape; and wherein the tubular member restrains each electrode in a contracted shape wherein upon advancement out of the tubular member each electrode assumes the expanded shape causing the free end to contact the bronchial wall; and a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for treating a wall of a bronchial tube comprising: a tubular member having a lumen; an elongated shaft having a distal portion, the elongated shaft is at least partially slidably positioned in the lumen of the tubular member; at least one electrode supported by the elongated shaft, which when energized causes tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting the bronchial tube in a non-collapsed configuration; wherein each electrode comprises a plurality of opposing portions having a first end attached to the elongated shaft and a second free end, said electrode being expandable in a radially outward direction from the elongated shaft to assume an expanded shape; and wherein the tubular member restrains each electrode in a contracted shape wherein upon advancement out of the tubular member each electrode assumes the expanded shape causing the free end to contact the bronchial wall; and a source of energy electrically connected to the at least one electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said plurality of opposing portions comprises at least one pair of opposing portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes each having substantially the same surface contour and each attached at spaced apart locations along a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one electrode is spring biased to expand radially outward.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each electrode is formed of a shape memory material which causes the electrode to expand radially outwardly in response to a temperature change.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the source of energy produces energy that is selected from the group consisting of RF energy, alternating current, microwaves, and combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode is connected to a positive lead of a RF generator and the second electrode is connected to a negative lead of the RF generator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first electrode is electrically insulated from the second electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of opposing portions comprises at least two curved sections which together form a conical shape, the at least two curved sections overlapping each other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least two curved sections overlap each other further in the contracted shape than in the expanded shape.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of opposing portions comprises at least one pair of flexible plates located on substantially opposite sides of the elongated shaft.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the at least one pair of flexible plates comprises two pairs of flexible plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3667476A
Cited
US3995617A
Cited
US4129129A
Cited
US4116589A
Cited
US4557272A
Cited
US4502490A
Cited
US4584998A
Cited
US4567882A
Cited
US4646737A
Cited
US4625712A
Cited
US4704121A
Cited
US4522212A
Cited
US4825871A
Cited
US4621882A
Cited
US4674497A
Cited
US5019075A
Cited
US4772112A
Cited
US4683890A
Cited
US4709698A
Cited
US4802492A
Cited
US4779614A
Cited
US4846152A
Cited
US4817586A
Cited
US4895557A
Cited
US5588432A
Cited
US4906229A
Cited
US5232444A
Cited
US4908012A
Cited
US4920978A
Cited
US5191883A
Cited
US4955377A
Cited
US5368591A
Cited
US5496311A
Cited
US4976709A
Cited
US4969865A
Cited
US5779698A
Cited
US4944722A
Cited
US5433730A
Cited
GB2233293B
Cited
US4985014A
Cited
US5084044A
Cited
US5562608A
Cited
US5707352A
Cited
US5167223A
Cited
US5117828A
Cited
US5036848A
Cited
US4991603A
Cited
US5009636A
Cited
US5234456A
Cited
US5549559A
Cited
US5096916A
Cited
US5578072A
Cited
US5400778A
Cited
US5103804A
Cited
US5053033A
Cited
US5105826A
Cited
US5345936A
Cited
US5465717A
Cited
US5415166A
Cited
US5374287A
Cited
US5213576A
Cited
US5255678A
Cited
US5231996A
Cited
US5269758A
Cited
US5443470A
Cited
US5255679A
Cited
US5782899A
Cited
US5571074A
Cited
US5509419A
Cited
US5313943A
Cited
US5293869A
Cited
US5309910A
Cited
US5871443A
Cited
US5471982A
Cited
US5807306A
Cited
US5545161A
Cited
US5423811A
Cited
US5393207A
Cited
US5456667A
Cited
US5860974A
Cited
US6004269A
Cited
US5820554A
Cited
US5607462A
Cited
US5964796A
Cited
US5437665A
Cited
US5964753A
Cited
US5881727A
Cited
US5545193A
Cited
US5991650A
Cited
US5641326A
Cited
US5782848A
Cited
US5458596A
Cited
US5478309A
Cited
US5765568A
Cited
US5810757A
Cited
US5800375A
Cited
US5827277A
Cited
US5681308A
Cited
US5769846A
Cited
US5908446A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-03 | 2005-03-05 | 2005-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-03 | 2009-03-05 | 2009-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-03 | 2013-03-05 | 2013-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |