Patent ID: 7425212

Claim:
An energy transfer apparatus for facilitating energy transfer into a mass of airway tissue, the apparatus comprising: a flexible elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and at least one lumen extending therebetween; distal tip located at a distal end of the apparatus; a plurality of electrically conductive legs each having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of each of the plurality of electrically conductive legs terminates in the distal tip, such that the plurality of electrically conductive legs are in electrical communication, each electrically conductive leg having a treatment section located between the distal and proximal ends, and being adapted to deflect away from an axis of the elongate body; a proximal joint located on a distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the proximal end of each of the electrically conductive legs terminates in the proximal joint; and an electrically conductive wire extending through the lumen of the elongated body and terminating at the distal tip, the wire being in electrical communication with the plurality of electrically conductive legs such that it may deliver current to the electrically conductive legs which when energized alter a bronchus or bronchiole wall so as to treat asthma, the wire also being moveable relative to the proximal joint to permit deflection of the plurality of conductive legs away from the wire.