Method of treating airways in the lung

Abstract

A device and method for treating bodily conduits involves the application of energy to the smooth muscle tissue of the conduit walls to reduce the bulk of smooth muscle tissue and mucus glands. The irradiation treatment of the smooth muscle tissue causes a reduction in the amount of smooth muscle tissue over time which increases the inner diameter of the body conduit for improved fluid flow and prevents smooth muscle spasms. The treatment is particularly useful in the lungs for treatment of asthma to prevent bronchospasms, increase the airway diameter for improved air exchange, and reduce mucus secretions in the lungs.

Description

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 095,323 filed Jun. 10, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating smooth muscle in the walls of body conduits, and more particularly, the invention relates to a method for treating medical conditions by reducing the bulk of smooth muscle surrounding a body conduit with radiant energy treatment of the smooth muscle. [0003] Asthma is a disease which involves heightened reactivity of the tracheobronchial tree to numerous stimuli causing contraction of smooth muscle surrounding the airways of the lungs. The hyperreactivity of the airways can result from abnormal tissue reactions in the airways, which may be immunologically induced, or from a biochemical or neurohumoral imbalance of other normally functioning responses. In a healthy patient, the smooth muscle surrounding the airways contracts, such as when the patient coughs, to increase the localized airflow through th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention relates to a device and method for treating bodily conduits by application of radiant energy to the smooth muscle tissue of the conduit walls to prevent the smooth muscle tissue from replicating. The treatment of the smooth muscle tissue causes a reduction in the amount of smooth muscle tissue over time which increases the inner diameter of the body conduit and prevents smooth muscle spasms.

[0012] In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention, a method of treating asthma to control bronchospasms includes irradiating the walls of an airway in a lung in a wavelength and intensity which causes a change in smooth muscle tissue cells and prevents the smooth muscle tissue cells from replicating, and controlling bronchospasms by reduction or elimination of smooth muscle tissue.

[0013] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method of treating respiratory conditions to control mucus plugging includes irradiating the walls of an airway in a lung in a wavelength and intensity which causes a change in mucus gland cells and prevents the mucus gland cells from replicating, and preventing mucus plugging by reduction or elimination of mucus glands.

[0015] The present invention provides advantages of a treatment for asthma or other enlargement or spasm of the smooth muscle by irradiation. The treatment enlarges airways, reduces or eliminates mucus plugging, and reduces or eliminates bronchospasm.

Problems solved by technology

The hyperreactivity of the airways can result from abnormal tissue reactions in the airways, which may be immunologically induced, or from a biochemical or neurohumoral imbalance of other normally functioning responses.

However, if the smooth muscle is already hypertrophied and enlarged the bronchodilating drugs which cause the muscle to relax do little to increase the airway inner diameter.

An additional disadvantage of the inhaled asthma drugs is that these drugs must be used repeatedly and regularly.

In addition to the airways of the lungs, other body conduits such as the esophagus, ureter, urethra, and coronary arteries, are also subject to periodic spasms which cause hypertrophy of the smooth muscle around these body conduits reducing the inner diameter of the conduits.

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