Patent ID: 8292882

Claim:
A method for delivering activation energy to an airway in a lung with a treatment device having an energy generator, a temperature sensor mounted on the treatment device, a controller coupled to the energy generator, and an energy delivering element, the method comprising: providing a user interface having an energy delivery element indicator configured to represent at least a portion of the energy delivery element; sensing an ambient temperature with the temperature sensor mounted on the treatment device before inserting an electrode of the energy delivery element into a patient, wherein the controller causes the energy delivery element indicator to emit a first light indicating that the energy delivery element is not operable and should be replaced when the sensed ambient temperature is not within a range; positioning the energy delivery element in the lung of the patient; activating a switch that initiates delivery of energy to airway tissue in the lung via the energy delivery element; sensing temperature of the airway tissue with the temperature sensor mounted on the treatment device; sensing impedance via the energy delivery element and a return electrode attached to the patient; and wherein the controller causes the energy delivery element indicator to emit a second light when the impedance is above a predetermined impedance level indicating that the energy delivery element should be redeployed.