Method of delivering energy to a lung airway using markers

Abstract

An energy delivery device for treating tissue regions in a body conduit, such as a lung airway, may utilize one or more markers, rings, bands, or other visual indicators along an outer surface of the device body. The one or more visual indicators facilitate guidance of the device to effectively and efficiently treat the tissue according to a predetermined axial treatment as well as measure extension of a distal portion of the device, tissue length, and/or treatment length. The predetermined axial treatment may be contiguous, overlapping, or intermittently spaced apart as determined by the marker spacing distance.

1 . An energy delivery device for use in a body conduit or cavity, the device comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal portion with a proximal end and a distal portion with a distal end;   an energy delivery element disposed at the distal end of the elongate body; and   a plurality of visual indicators disposed on the distal portion of the elongate body, wherein the visual indicators are separated by a predetermined spacing distance so as to provide a predetermined axial treatment in a body conduit or cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined axial treatment comprises contiguous, overlapping, intermittent, or combination treatment thereof of the body conduit or cavity with the energy delivery element. 
     
     
         3 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery element comprises an electrode, wherein the predetermined spacing distance comprises an active electrode length. 
     
     
         4 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined spacing comprises a distance in a range from about 3 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined spacing comprises a distance of about 5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visual indicators comprise two circular bands or rings. 
     
     
         7 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visual indicators comprise four circular bands or rings. 
     
     
         8 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visual indicators comprise two identical markers. 
     
     
         9 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of visual indicators comprise two markers having different colors or non-uniform configurations. 
     
     
         10 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a tubular sheath or shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The energy delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a proximal marker disposed on the proximal portion of the elongate body. 
     
     
         12 . A radio frequency energy delivery device for use in a lung airway so as to treat asthma, the device comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal portion with a proximal end and a distal portion with a distal end;   a radio frequency electrode disposed at the distal end of the elongate body; and   a plurality of visual indicators disposed on the distal portion of the elongate body, wherein the visual indicators are separated by a predetermined spacing distance so as to provide a predetermined axial treatment in a lung airway so as to treat asthma.   
     
     
         13 - 27 . (canceled)