This relates to methods and devices for treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, relates to a device for exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in the airway of human lungs. The exchange of energy with this airway tissue in the airways reduces the ability of the air ways to constrict and/or reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway. This also relates to a method for decreasing responsiveness or decreasing resistance to airflow of airways involves the transfer of energy to or from the airway walls to prevent or reduce airway constriction and other symptoms of lung diseases. The treatment reduces the ability of the airway to contract during an acute narrowing of the airways, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and/or increases the airway diameter. The methods according to the present invention provide a longer duration and/or more effective treatment for lung diseases than currently used drug treatments, and obviate patient compliance issues. This also includes additional steps that reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease and to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through a lung.

Modification of airways by application of energy

The present invention includes a system for delivering energy to an airway wall of a lung comprising an energy delivering apparatus and a PID controller having one or more variable gain factors which are rest after energy deliver has begun. The energy delivering apparatus may include a flexible elongated member and a distal expandable basket having at least one electrode for transferring energy to the airway wall and at least one temperature sensor for measuring temperature. The PID controller determines a new power set point base on an error between a preset temperature and the measured temperature. The algorithm can be Pi+1 = Pi + G(αei+βei-1+ηei-2) where α, β and η are preset values and α is from 1 to 2; β is from -1 to -2; and η is from -0.5 to 0-5. In another variation, the controller is configured to shut down if various measured parameters are exceeded such as, for example, energy, impedance, temperature, temperature differences, activation time and combinations thereof. Methods for treating a target medium using a PID algorithm are also provided.

Control system and process for application of energy to airway walls and other mediums

Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and destroying airway smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway.

Method of increasing gas exchange of a lung

A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.

Method for treating an asthma attack

Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue.

Systems, assemblies, and methods for treating a bronchial tree

A brake unit for automotive vehicles with electric drive is configured in the shape of a multiple-circuit compound system consisting of hydraulic friction brakes of brake circuits (I, I', I", III, III', III") and of an electroregenerative brake system (circuit II, II', II"). In a vehicle with a driven and a non-driven axle, three brake circuits exist, one brake circuit of which (I, I', I") is comprised of a pedal-actuated hydraulic brake pressure master unit (2) and of friction brakes (3, 4) acting upon the non-driven wheels. The second brake circuit (II, II', II") which represents an electroregenerative brake system is directly or indirectly coupled to the brake pedal and acts upon the driven wheels. The third brake circuit (III, III', III") which is comprised of friction brakes (10, 11) also acts upon the driven wheels. The actuation of the wheel brakes (10, 11) is connected to the second and third brake circuits. The distribution of the brake power to the front axle (VA) and to the rear axle (HA) is controlled with the aid of an electronic controller (7, 7',7").

Brake system for automotive vehicles with electric drive

PURPOSE: To save the power, and to reduce the noise by making a control to interrupt the power supply to an electric motor at or over the first vehicle speed threshold, and feed the full power at or under the second vehicle speed threshold which is lower than the vehicle speed threshold. CONSTITUTION: A power steering system gives the auxiliary steering power by pumping the pressurized oil from a hydraulic pump to be driven by an electric motor 25 to/from right and left working chambers of a hydraulic cylinder of a mechanical steering mechanism through a control valve 1 provided on the axis of a steering shaft 2. The electric motor 25 is controlled by an electronic control means 21 to input the output signals from a steering speed and/or steering torque sensor 22, a vehicle speed sensor 23, etc. The power supply to the electric motor 25 is interrupted at over the first vehicle speed threshold, while the reduced power is replenished at or under the first vehicle speed threshold, and the full power is supplied at or under the second vehicle speed threshold lower than the first vehicle speed threshold. COPYRIGHT: (C)1991,JPO

Vehicle power steering system

Hilfskraftlenkung fuer kraftfahrzeuge

A controllable vibration damper for automotive vehicles is disclosed having a damping piston which is axially slidably and sealedly guided in a damping tube, and which subdivides the damping tube filled with a damping medium into two working chambers. The connection between the two working chambers is provided with at least one non-regulated first valve and at least one controllable second valve, which valves are arranged acting hydraulically in parallel in respect to one another. In order to be able to regulate the effective damping force continuously in wide ranges, for the adjustment of damping hardness, the controllable valve will periodically open and close in rapid sequence in dependence upon pulsed control signals.

Controllable vibration damper

The braking force amplifier (30) linked to the brake pedal (50) draws on vacuum from a connection (21) into the junction between one cylinder (11) and its inlet manifold (15). A pneumatic restrictor (24) for closing the latter when necessary is pref. as near as possible to the connection. A control circuit (49) opens a pref. electromagnetic valve (27) to the pneumatic actuator (25) from a point upstream of the non-return valve (23) when the pedal is depressed. Another cylinder inlet (18) is connected (28) permanently via a similar valve (29) to the amplifier. ADVANTAGE - High vacuum is attained more quickly and rate of evacuation is increased with min. dead space between cylinder and restrictor.

Vacuum provision appts. for vehicular power-assisted braking - has two connections to servo amplifier from separate cylinder inlets, one of which has pneumatically operated restrictor

Hans-Christof Klein

Papers

Brake system for automotive vehicles with electric drive

Vehicle power steering system

Hilfskraftlenkung fuer kraftfahrzeuge

Controllable vibration damper

Vacuum provision appts. for vehicular power-assisted braking - has two connections to servo amplifier from separate cylinder inlets, one of which has pneumatically operated restrictor