Energy delivery devices and methods

Abstract

A method of treating an airway includes inserting a treatment device into the airway, wherein the treatment device includes an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to tissue of the airway, advancing the treatment device to a treatment location in the airway, activating the energy delivery element to deliver energy to tissue at the treatment location, and cooling tissue near the treatment location simultaneously with the activating step.

1 . A method of treating an airway, comprising:
 inserting a treatment device into the airway, wherein the treatment device includes an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to tissue of the airway;   advancing the treatment device to a treatment location in the airway;   activating the energy delivery element to deliver energy to tissue at the treatment location; and   cooling tissue near the treatment location simultaneously with the activating step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cooling tissue includes preventing destruction of an inner surface of the airway. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery element includes an electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the energy delivery element to deliver energy to tissue at the treatment location includes damaging nerve tissue of the airway. 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating an airway, comprising:
 moving an intraluminal device along a lumen of an airway of a bronchial tree, the intraluminal device comprising an expandable member and an energy emitter;   inflating the expandable member with a cooling fluid; and   delivering energy from the energy emitter to nerves so as to damage nerves along the airway.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the expandable member includes a balloon. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cooling fluid cools tissue along the airway. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein cooling tissue along the airway and delivering energy from the energy emitter occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein cooling tissue along the airway and delivering energy from the energy emitter occur sequentially. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the energy emitter includes an electrode. 
     
     
         11 . A device for treating an airway, comprising:
 an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to nerves so as to damage nerves of the airway; and   an expandable member coupled to the energy delivery element and configured to receive a fluid to cool tissue of the airway.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the energy delivery element includes an electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable member includes a balloon. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the electrode is outside of the balloon, and the balloon is coupled to the electrode so that the electrode moves towards tissue of the airway as the balloon is inflated. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a cooling fluid expands the balloon and cools the electrode and tissue of the airway. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the energy delivery element includes multiple electrodes spaced about the balloon. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to deliver energy to nerves while the expandable member receives a cooling fluid.