Devices for creating collateral channels in the lungs
First Claim
1. A method of improving gaseous flow within a diseased lung comprising the step of altering the gaseous flow paths within the lung.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The devices and methods disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices and methods produce and to maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that expired air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The devices and methods also disclose locating and selecting a site for creation of a collateral opening.
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Citations
186 Claims
- 1. A method of improving gaseous flow within a diseased lung comprising the step of altering the gaseous flow paths within the lung.
- 71. A device for altering gaseous flow in a diseased lung comprising a locator for locating at least one site for creating a collateral channel in the lung.
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89. A medical device for detecting motion within tissue by observing a Doppler shift and for creating channels in tissue, the medical device comprising:
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a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
a transducer assembly adapted to generate a source signal and receive a reflected signal, a portion of said assembly located adjacent to said distal end of said elongate member, said transducer assembly comprising a tip located at said distal end of said medical device, said tip being distal to said elongate member; and
a hole-making assembly located adjacent to said transducer assembly.
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121. A medical device for detecting blood vessels within tissue by observing a Doppler shift, the medical device comprising:
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a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
a transducer assembly adapted to generate a source signal and receive a reflected signal, a portion of said transducer assembly located adjacent to said distal end of said elongate member, said transducer assembly comprising at least one an ultrasound transducer and an acoustic lens, said transducer located adjacent to said elongate member and adapted to generate said source signal and to receive said reflected signal, said acoustic lens located distally of said elongate member and comprising a tip of said device, said lens having an inner surface and an outer surface, said lens inner surface being in at least acoustic communication with said transducer, wherein when said transducer generates said source signal said lens refracts and disperses said source signal substantially about said outer surface of said lens, and when said outer surface receives said reflected signal, said lens refracts said reflected signal towards said transducer.
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131. A medical device for creating an opening in tissue within the lungs and applying heat to the opening, said medical device comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, said elongate member including a reinforcing member extending through at least a portion of said elongate member, said reinforcing member adapted to increase an axial compressive strength of said elongate member;
a dilating member having a body extending from a distal end of said elongate member and a tapered end opposite to said elongate member;
a heating element affixed to said dilating member, said heating element adapted to heat said dilating member.
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140. A conduit for maintaining the patency of an opening in tissue comprising:
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a center section having a first end and a second end and a central axis extending between said ends, a passageway within said center section extending between said ends; and
at least one extension member extending from each end of said center section, each said extension member having a free end extending away from said center section, each of said extension members being parallel to said central axis of said center section, each of said free ends of said extension members being moveable such that said extension member may bend about said respective end of said center section.
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163. An implantable device comprising a conduit for placement in a collateral channel within a diseased lung comprising a means for maintaining a gas passageway between parenchymal tissue and a natural airway within the lung.
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175. A catheter for deploying a conduit within an airway in a lung comprising:
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a flexible elongate portion having a distal end and a proximal end;
at least one lumen extending between said distal and proximal ends; and
an hour-glass shaped balloon located adjacent to said distal end, said balloon having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein said first and second portions are capable of expanding to a greater diameter than said second portion.
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176. A kit for maintaining the patency of an opening in tissue comprising:
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a conduit comprising a tubular center section having a first end and a second end and a central axis extending between said ends, said center section comprising a mesh formed from a plurality of ribs, a plurality of extension members having a free end extending from each end of said center section, said extension members arranged around a circumference of said center section, each of said free ends of said extension members being independently moveable in a direction orthogonal to said central axis to form an angle with said central axis; and
a delivery catheter.
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180. A method of evaluating an individual having a diseased lung as a candidate for a procedure to create collateral channels within an airway of the individual, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) performing pulmonary function tests on the individual to obtain at least one pulmonary function value;
(b) comparing the at least one pulmonary function to a corresponding predetermined pulmonary function value;
(c) assigning a rating to the individual based upon said comparing step; and
(d) evaluating the individual based upon the rating.
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184. A method of determining the effectiveness of a procedure to improve gaseous flow within a diseased lung, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) performing pulmonary function tests on the individual to obtain at least one pulmonary function value;
(b) creating collateral channels within the lung;
(c) performing post procedure pulmonary function tests on the individual to obtain at least one post-procedure pulmonary function value; and
(d) obtaining clinical information from the individual;
(e) comparing the pulmonary function value with the post-procedure pulmonary function value to determine the effect of creating collateral ventilation; and
(f) evaluating the comparing step with the clinical information to assess the effectiveness of the procedure to improve gaseous flow within the diseased lung.
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186. A modified respiratory airway having an artificially created channel allowing gaseous communication between an exterior of the airway and an interior of the airway.
Specification