Non-invasive and minimally invasive denervation methods and systems for performing the same
Inventors
Mayse, Martin L. • Dimmer, Steven C.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12343060-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to non-invasive and minimally invasive denervation of a bronchial tree to treat COPD and/or asthma by attenuating vagus nerve signal transmission. It positions an energy emitter with respect to nerve tissue along an airway while the energy emitter is positioned outside of the airway, and damages the nerve tissue to provide bronchial denervation without severing the airway.
In the described techniques, an instrument having a distal energy emitter is moved through a skin of a subject and a distal section of the instrument is wrapped around an airway. Energizing the distal energy emitter damages nerve tissue using energy from the energy emitter while positioned outside the airway, and the instrument is subsequently removed.
The disclosure further describes apparatus and guidance for positioning and monitoring during ablation, including percutaneous instrument access modes and visualization or guidance devices. It also describes non-target protection concepts using cooling and visualization, and targeting distal branches by treating main bronchi, lobar, or segmental sites without severing the airway.
Claims Coverage
Two independent methods are identified. Each claim includes multiple inventive features directed to bronchial-tree denervation using a distal energy emitter positioned relative to airway nerve tissue and delivering energy to damage or inhibit nervous system signals.
Wrapping a distal energy emitter outside the airway to damage nerve tissue
Providing an instrument with an energy emitter positioned at a distal section, moving the energy emitter through skin, wrapping the distal section around an airway to position the energy emitter with respect to nerve tissue along the airway, energizing the energy emitter to damage nerve tissue while the energy emitter is positioned outside of the airway, and removing the instrument.
Percutaneous wrapping to inhibit signals between first and second bronchial portions
Percutaneously delivering a distal section through skin and wrapping it around an airway such that the distal section is positioned to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree, then delivering energy to a first portion of the bronchial tree to substantially inhibit nervous system signals from traveling to a second portion of the bronchial tree.
The claim coverage centers on percutaneous delivery of an instrument with a distal energy emitter that is wrapped around an airway to damage bronchial nerve tissue while the emitter is positioned outside the airway. The methods then use delivered energy to inhibit nervous system signal travel between bronchial portions.
Stated Advantages
Attenuating vagus nerve signal transmission to treat COPD and/or asthma.
Minimizing damage to non-target tissues and airway integrity.
Delivering denervation without severing the airway.
Documented Applications
Treating COPD and/or asthma by denervating at least a portion of a bronchial tree.
Attenuating vagus nerve signal transmission within bronchial trees as part of COPD/asthma treatment.
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