US6488673B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of increasing gas exchange of a lung
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
•
Filing: 1999-07-08
•
Granted: 2002-12-03
•
Expires: 2019-07-08
Abstract
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. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Laufer
- 👤 David P. Thompson
- 👤 Bryan E. Loomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61M25/00; A61M25/0043; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; 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; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B18/18; A61B2018/1807; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M2025/0096; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/10; A61M2210/1025; A61M2210/1039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging lung cells with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway so as to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
36 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging lung cells with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway so as to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said damaging of lung cells to cause fibrosis includes damaging cells of smooth muscle tissue in the lung.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said damaging lung cells to cause fibrosis increases the thickness of a wall of the airway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to damage the lung cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung comprises inserting a plurality of electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said electrodes form a basket shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a wire coated with an insulating material except at points where the electrode contacts said airway.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
29 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging tissue in the lung with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
29 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging tissue in the lung with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the damaging of tissue includes damaging lung cells with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the damaging of tissue destroys smooth muscle tone of the airway to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said damaging of lung cells to cause fibrosis also destroys smooth muscle tone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said damaging tissue to increase gas exchange increases the thickness of a wall of the airway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to damage the tissue.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway, said causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus being at least one of: heating the tissue; cooling the tissue; delivering a liquid that causes trauma to the tissue; delivering a gas that causes trauma to the tissue; puncturing the tissue; tearing the tissue; cutting the tissue; applying ultrasound to the tissue; and applying ionizing radiation to the tissue.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus to cause fibrosis to stiffen the airway, said causing trauma to tissue with the apparatus being at least one of: heating the tissue; cooling the tissue; delivering a liquid that causes trauma to the tissue; delivering a gas that causes trauma to the tissue; puncturing the tissue; tearing the tissue; cutting the tissue; applying ultrasound to the tissue; and applying ionizing radiation to the tissue.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
29 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
29 words
A method, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus to increase gas exchange performed by the lung.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus heats at least a portion of the lung to destroy the airway smooth muscle tone.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
34 words
A method of increasing gas exchange performed by a lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging airway tissue with the apparatus to thicken a wall of the airway.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
34 words
A method of increasing gas exchange performed by a lung, comprising: inserting an apparatus into an airway of a lung; and damaging airway tissue with the apparatus to thicken a wall of the airway.
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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) | 2005-12-02 | 2006-06-03 | 2006-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-02 | 2010-06-03 | 2010-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-02 | 2014-06-03 | 2014-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |