BRONCHIAL STENTER HAVING EXPANDABLE ELECTRODES

摘要

An apparatus and method are provided for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as asthm a. The apparatus delivers energy to inductively heat the tissue of the bronchia l tube by directing electromagnetic energy into the tissue. The apparatus includes expandable electrodes that come into contact with the walls of the bronchial tubes. The expandable electrodes may be conical-shaped electrodes, loop-shaped electrodes, plate-shaped electrodes, or other shapes. The method includes heating the bronchial tube to cause tissue in the wall of the bronchial tube to undergo a structural transformation effective to render th e wall capable of supporting a non-collapsed lumen. The procedure effectively reinforces the structural integrity of the bronchial tube wall and thereby prevents the lumen from collapsing.