US 12,133,670 B2
Method for treating emphysema with condensable thermal vapor
Robert Barry, Kirkland, WA (US); and Erik Henne, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Uptake Medical Technology Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Uptake Medical Technology Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/892,378.
Application 17/892,378 is a continuation of application No. 16/143,321, filed on Sep. 26, 2018, granted, now 11,419,658.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/582,220, filed on Nov. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0395309 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/04 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61M 31/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/04 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00541 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00982 (2013.01); A61B 2018/048 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01); A61M 31/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. In a bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) procedure of diseased tissue in a lung of a patient, a method comprising:
locating candidate locations for creating holes along one or more airways for reducing the risk of pneumonia in a first lung segment;
creating a plurality of holes along the one or more airways; and
draining, without offending the visceral layer of the pleura, mucus from the first lung segment through the created plurality of holes while the diseased tissue remodels during the BLVR procedure, thereby reducing the risk of pneumonia.