Removable anchored lung volume reduction devices and methods

• US 20030181922A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Spiration, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Alferness, Clifton A.
• Application Number:
  US10/103,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi

Abstract

An intra-bronchial device may be placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may piercingly engage the air passageway wall. The anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member. The anchor may be releasable by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member, or by drawing the obstructing member toward the larynx. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.

Claims

1. An intra-bronchial device for placement in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway, the device comprising:

an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion to collapse the lung portion; and

an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway when the anchor is deployed.

2. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the anchor engages the air passageway wall.

3. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the anchor pierces into the air passageway wall.

4. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the obstructing member and the anchor are simultaneously deployable.

5. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member.

6. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1 wherein a portion of the intra-bronchial device is collapsible.

7. The intra-bronchial device of claim 6, wherein the anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member.

8. The intra-bronchial device of claim 6, wherein the anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member by drawing the obstructing member proximally.

9. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes a resilient material for imparting a force against the air passageway to deform the air passageway to more positively anchor the obstructing member.

10. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the obstructing member comprises material having memory of an original shape, and resiliency to return the material to that shape.

11. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises material having memory of an original shape, and resiliency to return the material to that shape.

12. The intra-bronchial device of claim 1, wherein the obstructing member is a one-way valve.

13. A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a portion of the lung, the method including the steps of:

providing an intra-bronchial device comprising an obstructing member which is so dimensioned when deployed in an air passageway communicating with the portion of the lung to be collapsed to preclude air from being inhaled, and an anchor that anchors the obstructing member when the anchor is deployed;

placing the obstructing member in the air passageway; and

deploying the anchor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor is releasable for removal of the obstructing member.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the obstructing member forms a one-way valve.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a portion of the obstructing member is collapsible.

17. A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a portion of the lung with a removable device, the method including the steps of:

providing an intra-bronchial device an obstructing member which is so dimensioned when deployed in an air passageway communicating with the portion of the lung to be collapsed to preclude air from being inhaled, and an anchor that anchors the obstructing member when the anchor is deployed;

placing the obstructing member in the air passageway;

deploying an anchor; and

removing the obstructing member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device, and the step of removing the obstructing member includes the further step of releasing the anchor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the obstructing member forms a one-way valve.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the obstructing member is collapsible, and the step of removing the obstructing member includes the further step of collapsing a portion of the obstructing member.

21. An air passageway obstructing device comprising:

obstructing means for obstructing air flow within the air passageway; and

anchoring means to anchor the air passageway obstructing device within the air passageway.

22. An air passageway obstructing device comprising:

obstructing means for obstructing air flow within the air passageway; and

anchoring means to anchor the air passageway obstructing device within the air passageway, the anchoring means being releasable for removal of the obstructing means from the air passageway.