Patent ID: 8235983
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of treating tissue in an internal passageway in a patient, comprising: positioning an access device in a lung airway of a patient; advancing an elongated body of a treatment device along the access device until an energy delivery unit at a distal portion of the elongated body projects from the access device; expanding the energy delivery unit in response to input from an operator such that energy delivery elements contact a sidewall of the airway; and activating an energy supply coupled to the treatment device such that energy is delivered to the sidewall of the airway, wherein a single person physically operates both the access device and the treatment device while expanding the energy delivery unit and activating the energy supply; wherein advancing the elongated body comprises holding the elongated body with a distal phalanx of a thumb and a distal phalanx of a forefinger of one hand of the single person while pushing the elongated body through a working lumen of the access device; and expanding the energy delivery unit comprises moving an actuator with one of a second-fourth finger of the one hand of the single person, wherein the actuator is operatively coupled to the energy delivery unit.