Airway Denervation Device for COPD Exacerbation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma fail to effectively manage bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation, leading to frequent exacerbations and rapid decline in lung function, particularly in 'frequent exacerbators' who experience rapid symptom worsening and increased mortality risk.
Innovation Solution
A medical device and method that applies a stimulus to nerves controlling airway constriction, measures the effect, and delivers therapeutic energy to reduce bronchoconstriction and inflammation by selectively denervating sensory vagal afferent fibers, using a combination of stimulation and energy delivery elements to target specific areas of the lung.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current treatments (long-acting muscarinic antagonists, long-acting beta agonists, corticosteroids, and antibiotics) are used to treat COPD symptoms, then symptom management is provided, but frequent exacerbations occur and lung function rapidly declines in frequent exacerbators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic sensory vagal afferent fibers that trigger bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion through denervation. By selectively eliminating these specific nerve fibers while preserving other airway structures and functions, the invention addresses the root cause of frequent exacerbations rather than merely managing symptoms with medications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physiological parameter of vagal afferent activity from a hyperactive state (causing frequent exacerbations) to a denervated state. By altering the neural signaling parameter through selective denervation, the patent transforms the airway's response to irritants, reducing the frequency and severity of exacerbations while maintaining lung function stability.
2Measurement precision
If stimulant agents (methacholine, histamine, bradykinin, adenosine, mannitol, capsaicin) are used to stimulate nerves for diagnosis, then airway hyperresponsiveness is identified, but the stimulation itself causes bronchoconstriction and requires subsequent treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an expandable member (balloon, basket, stent, or umbrella) as an intermediary device that delivers stimulant agents locally to sensory nerves while containing the effects. The expandable member acts as a mediator between the stimulant and the nerve, allowing precise diagnostic stimulation while the same device subsequently delivers therapeutic energy to denervate the targeted fibers, converting the harmful effect into a beneficial treatment outcome.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful bronchoconstriction induced by stimulant agents into a beneficial diagnostic and therapeutic opportunity. By using the same expandable member to first stimulate and then denervate the sensory nerves, the patent transforms what would normally be a harmful side effect into the mechanism for achieving long-term symptom relief and preventing future exacerbations.
3Reliability
If energy is delivered to denervate sensory vagal afferent fibers, then bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion are reduced, but the procedure requires precise targeting to avoid damaging other airway structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the airway treatment by focusing energy delivery on specific localized regions where sensory vagal afferent fibers are concentrated. The expandable member enables segmental denervation of targeted airway portions while preserving other segments, allowing precise control over which nerves are affected and minimizing damage to surrounding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable member serves multiple functions: it acts as a delivery vehicle for stimulant agents during diagnosis, provides a platform for energy delivery during treatment, and functions as a mechanical constraint to contain the energy field. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, simplifying the overall procedural complexity while maintaining precision targeting capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach reduces acute exacerbations, bronchoconstriction, and airway inflammation, stabilizing vagal afferent activity, thereby improving lung function and quality of life, and reducing mortality risk in COPD patients.
Implementation Method 1
a stimulation member configured to apply a stimulus to a nerve that is configured to control a contraction of an airway distal to the nerve
Implementation Method 2
an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to tissue defining the airway to reduce an effect of the stimulus on the airway
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device may include a stimulation member configured to apply a stimulus to a nerve that is configured to control a contraction of an airway distal to the nerve, and a measurement member configured to measure an effect of the stimulus on the airway. The medical device also may include an energy delivery element configured to deliver energy to tissue defining the airway to reduce an effect of the stimulus on the airway. The energy delivery element may be disposed at or distally of the stimulation member.