Energy delivery devices and methods

Abstract

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for treating a lung, comprising:
 delivering energy from an energy delivery element to tissue contacting the energy delivery element to damage the contacted tissue, wherein the contacted tissue defines an airway, and wherein the delivering energy occurs while flowing a cooling source into the airway to absorb heat from the contacted tissue.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the contacted tissue includes epithelium. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the contacted tissue includes mucosal tissue. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is an electrode. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is disposed on an expandable member. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein flowing a cooling source into the airway includes flowing a cooling liquid into the balloon. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the balloon extends distally from a shaft, and the cooling source is a fluid, wherein the shaft includes an inflow lumen configured to deliver the fluid to the balloon, and an outflow lumen separate from the inflow lumen, the outflow lumen being configured to convey the fluid from the balloon. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the shaft further includes an energizing member that extends from an RF source through the activation lumen to the energy delivery element. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein delivering energy damages nerve tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the nerve tissue is disposed radially outward of the contacted tissue. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein an entirety of the energy delivery element remains within the airway during energy delivery. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the cooling source remains within an expandable member while absorbing heat. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method includes delivering energy to the contacted tissue in one or more circumferential bands. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivered reduces airway responsiveness. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is helically shaped. 
     
     
         42 . A method for treating a lung, comprising:
 actively heating a portion of tissue defining an airway, while actively cooling the portion of tissue, to damage the tissue.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein actively heating the portion of tissue also damages nerve tissue disposed radially outward of the portion of tissue. 
     
     
         44 . A method for treating a lung, comprising:
 delivering radiofrequency energy to damage surface tissue surrounding an airway; and   flowing a cooling source into the airway, simultaneous with the delivering step, to remove heat from the surface tissue.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein delivering radiofrequency energy also damages nerve tissue disposed radially outward of the surface tissue.