US6083255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bronchial stenter
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-19
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2017-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are provided. The device which has a balloon at a distal end delivers energy so that the tissue is indirectly, i.e., conductively, heated by contact with a heated surface of the balloon which has been in turn heated by a heated fluid. The method includes heating the bronchial tube to cause at least a portion of the cross links of the collagen in the wall to unlink/open and subsequently form new cross links after the collagen fibers have realigned. The procedure effectively reinforces the structural integrity of the wall and thereby prevents the lumen from collapsing.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Laufer
- 👤 Donald A. Tanaka
- 👤 Bryan E. Loomas
- 👤 Keith M. Burger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/08; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00115; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B2017/22062; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00541; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/046; A61B18/18; A61B2018/1807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprises the step of: heating a wall of the lumen with an expandable heat treatment device to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprises the step of: heating a wall of the lumen with an expandable heat treatment device to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the wall is heated to a temperature in the range between about 60° C. and about 95° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the wall is heated for about 1 to about 600 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises: advancing a treatment device into the lumen of the bronchial tube; and activating the treatment device to raise the temperature of the wall to cause a structural transformation in the collagen of the wall.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprise the step of: heating a wall of the lumen to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall, wherein the treatment device comprises: an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the injection of a fluid into the interior of the balloon; a source of fluid; and means for heating the fluid to a temperature sufficient to cause the wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprise the step of: heating a wall of the lumen to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall, wherein the treatment device comprises: an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the injection of a fluid into the interior of the balloon; a source of fluid; and means for heating the fluid to a temperature sufficient to cause the wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the means for heating the fluid comprises: a source of energy; and means for transmitting energy from the source of energy to the fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the means for heating the fluid comprises at least two electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the means for heating the fluid comprises a first electrode which is connected to the positive electrode of an RF generator and a second electrode which is connected to the negative electrode of the RF generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the first electrode has a first pole and the second electrode has a second pole that are located in the interior of the balloon and are in contact with the fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the source of energy generates RF energy or alternating current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the fluid is saline.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the balloon is made of an elastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the balloon is made of an inelastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the fluid is saline.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprises the step of: heating a wall of the lumen to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall, wherein the treatment device comprises: an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the introduction of a heated fluid into the balloon; a source of fluid; and means for introducing the heated fluid into the balloon.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising a lumen in an individual that comprises the step of: heating a wall of the lumen to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall, wherein the treatment device comprises: an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the introduction of a heated fluid into the balloon; a source of fluid; and means for introducing the heated fluid into the balloon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the source of heated fluid comprises: at least one electrode locating in the elongated member and which when energized heats a fluid to a temperature sufficient to cause the wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen; a source of energy; and means for transmitting energy from the source of energy to the at least one electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode which is connected to the positive electrode of an RF generator and a second electrode which is connected to the negative electrode of the RF generator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the source of energy generates RF energy or alternating current.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the fluid is saline.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the means for introducing the heated fluid includes means for circulating a heated fluid into and out of the balloon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the balloon is made of an elastic material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the balloon is made of a non-elastic material.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of training a person to treat a bronchial tube comprising a lumen of an individual that comprises demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following steps: heating a wall of the lumen with an expandable heat treatment device to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of training a person to treat a bronchial tube comprising a lumen of an individual that comprises demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following steps: heating a wall of the lumen with an expandable heat treatment device to a temperature effective to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the wall is heated to a temperature in the range between about 60° C. and about 95° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the wall is heated for about 1 to about 600 seconds.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises: advancing a treatment device into the lumen of the bronchial tube of the individual; and activating the treatment device to raise the temperature of the wall to sufficiently effect a structural transformation of the wall.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the treatment device comprises: a treatment device comprising an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the injection of a fluid into the interior of the balloon; a source of fluid; and means for heating the fluid to a temperature sufficient to cause the wall of the lumen to undergo a structural transformation effective to render the wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the treatment device comprises: an elongated member with a balloon that is attached to a distal end wherein the balloon deforms and expands upon the introduction of a heated fluid into the balloon; a source of the heated fluid; and means for introducing the heated fluid into the balloon.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising: heating a wall of the bronchial tube to a temperature of at least 70° C. to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of treating a bronchial tube comprising: heating a wall of the bronchial tube to a temperature of at least 70° C. to cause the wall to undergo a structural transformation to improve the structural integrity of the wall.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the wall is treated with a treatment device having an expandable distal end for contacting and heating the bronchial tube wall.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the wall is heated to a temperature of about 70° C. to about 95° C.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the step of heating the wall comprises: advancing a treatment device into the lumen of the bronchial tube; and activating the treatment device to raise the temperature of the wall to at least 70° C. to cause the structural transformation and improve the integrity of the wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |