The Procedure

Video Script

Do you or someone you know suffer from COPD or Severe Asthma? A new therapy called Targeted Lung Denervation has been developed to treat these obstructive lung diseases.

For most people with normal lung function, breathing is easy – the airways are wide open with minimal inflammation and mucus. When you suffer from a chronic respiratory disease you may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and a cough that produces mucus. Sometimes you may experience sudden flare-ups of these symptoms called exacerbations, which lead you to seek medical attention.

Targeted Lung Denervation, or TLD, is a non-surgical procedure that interrupts overactive nerve signals and may reduce obstructive airway symptoms, helping you to breathe easier. A standard bronchoscope is passed through the patient’s mouth and into the lungs, and a special catheter is passed through the bronchoscope to provide the treatment.

Once the catheter is in place the balloon is inflated, notice the silver electrode on the inflated balloon. When activated, the electrode delivers a type of electrical energy called radiofrequency energy, which penetrates to interrupt the nerves located just outside of the airways.  Once the energy has been delivered in one position, the balloon is deflated and rotated to the next position. This is continued for four total activations. Upon completion, the catheter is removed and the animation shows that the nerves distal to the treatment site have been interrupted decreasing nerve signals throughout the lung on that side.

The catheter is then placed in the lung on the opposite side and the treatment is continued in the same four positions. The entire treatment is now complete and the catheter and bronchoscope are removed.

Notice how the nerves at the treatment site and beyond have been interrupted as shown by the color change from yellow to brown.  The magnification demonstrates how the treatment effect extends all the way from the actual treatment site out to the smallest airways.

Following TLD, we expect to see a relaxation and opening of the airways and a decrease in mucus production. With these improvements, air can now more readily pass into and out of the lungs. Breathing becomes less labored, and both symptoms and exacerbations have been shown to be reduced.

If you would like more information on this investigational therapy, please contact us at research@nuvaira.com