Selective lung tissue ablation

Abstract

Medical methods and systems are provided for effecting lung volume reduction by selectively ablating segments of lung tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treatment system for ablating a targeted treatment site in a lung of a patient, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and   an energy emitting element disposed near the distal end of the shaft, wherein the energy-emitting element comprises an elongate member which will extend through the target site in the lung and an expansion element configured to enable the energy-emitting element to be expanded to conform to a shape of the airway of the treatment site;   wherein the system is configured to protect adjacent regions in the lung or surrounding tissue from thermal damage by controlling pressure or temperature at the treatment site and at one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site.   
     
     
         2 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy emitting element comprises an elongate coil shaped electrode or an elongate braided wire electrode. 
     
     
         3 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion element comprises an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         4 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the expansion element comprises a constraint which can be released to allow the expansion element to self-expand. 
     
     
         5 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy emitting element comprises an electrically resistive coil or a hot fluid element. 
     
     
         6 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to deliver cooling media to the one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site. 
     
     
         7 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to heat or cool the treatment site to a level to collapse at least a portion the treatment site. 
     
     
         8 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to raise a temperature of tissue at the target site to a temperature in the range from 40° C. to 95° C. 
     
     
         9 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to deliver energy comprising radiofrequency, alternating current, microwave, ultrasound, coherent light, incoherent light, radioisotopes, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to introduce an electrically or thermally conducting fluid into the treatment site to improve energy distribution. 
     
     
         11 . A treatment system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to monitor the temperature within the treatment site and control the energy exchange to maintain a temperature within a desired range. 
     
     
         12 . A treatment system for ablating a targeted treatment site in a lung of a patient, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and   an energy emitting element disposed near the distal end of the shaft, wherein the energy emitting element is configured to heat or cool the treatment site to a level to collapse at least a portion the treatment site;   wherein the system is configured to protect adjacent regions in the lung or surrounding tissue from thermal damage by controlling pressure or temperature at one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site.   
     
     
         13 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the energy emitting element comprises an elongate coil shaped electrode or an elongate braided wire electrode. 
     
     
         14 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the energy emitting element comprises an electrically resistive coil or a hot fluid element. 
     
     
         15 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to deliver cooling media to the one or more untreated regions adjacent the treatment site. 
     
     
         16 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to heat or cool the treatment site to a level to collapse at least a portion the treatment site. 
     
     
         17 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to raise a temperature of tissue at the target site to a temperature in the range from 40° C. to 95° C. 
     
     
         18 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to deliver energy comprising radiofrequency, alternating current, microwave, ultrasound, coherent light, incoherent light, radioisotopes, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to introduce an electrically or thermally conducting fluid into the treatment site to improve energy distribution. 
     
     
         20 . A treatment system as in  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to monitor the temperature within the treatment site and control the energy exchange to maintain a temperature within a desired range.