Methods and devices for use in performing pulmonary procedures

• US 20030192551A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Pulmonx
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Pulmonx
• Inventors: Gifford, Hanson S. III, Deem, Mark E., French, Ronald, Sutton, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/419,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• 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 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2476 Valves implantable in the body not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 : the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 : Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for performing pulmonary procedures, and in particular treating lung disease. A flow control element includes a valve that prevents airflow in the inhalation direction but permits airflow in the exhalation direction. The flow control element is guided to and positioned at the site by a bronchoscope that is introduced into the patient'"'"'s trachea and used to view the lungs during delivery of the flow control element. The valve may include one, two or more valve elements, and it may be collapsible for easier delivery. A source of vacuum or suction may be used to increase the amount of fluid withdrawn from the lung tissue. A device for measuring hollow structures, such as bronchioles, and a device for removing a previously-placed flow control element are disclosed as well.

Claims

1. An instrument for removing a flow control element implanted in a lung passageway of a patient, comprising an elongated shaft configured for positioning in the lung passageway and a removal component at a distal end of the shaft adapted to engage the flow control element to remove it from the lung passageway after the flow control element has been implanted.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the flow control element is movable between a collapsed configuration for positioning through the lung passageway and an expanded configuration for implanting in the lung passageway, and the removal component is adapted to move the flow control element into the collapsed configuration.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein removal component comprises a grasping element configured to grasp the flow control element.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the grasping element has a plurality of movable tips configured to engage the flow control element.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the removal component is movable between a collapsed configuration for positioning into the lung passageway and an expanded configuration for engaging the flow control element.

6. The instrument of claim 5, further comprising an actuator at a proximal end of the elongated shaft for moving the removal component between the collapsed and expanded configurations.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft and the removal component are configured for positioning through a channel of a device positionable in the patient'"'"'s trachea.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the device is a bronchoscope.

9. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the removal component is collapsible for positioning through the channel.

16. The system of claim 1O, wherein the shaft and the removal component are configured for positioning through a channel of a device positionable in the patient'"'"'s trachea.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the device is a bronchoscope.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the removal component is collapsible for positioning through the channel.

10. A system for use in a lung passageway of a patient comprising:

a flow control element suitable for implanting in a lung passageway of a patient to restrict fluid flow in at least an inspiration direction therethrough; and

a removal instrument having an elongated shaft configured for positioning in the lung passageway and a removal component at a distal end of the shaft adapted to engage the flow control element to remove it from the lung passageway after the flow control element has been implanted.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow control element is movable between a collapsed configuration for positioning through the lung passageway and an expanded configuration for implanting in the lung passageway, and the removal component is adapted to move the flow control element into the collapsed configuration.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein removal component comprises a grasping element configured to grasp the flow control element.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the grasping element has a plurality of movable tips configured to engage the flow control element.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the removal component is movable between a collapsed configuration for positioning into the lung passageway and an expanded configuration for engaging the flow control element.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an actuator at the proximal end of the elongated shaft for moving the removal component between the collapsed and expanded configurations.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow control element comprises valve, the valve restricting fluid flow in the inspiration direction and allowing fluid flow in an expiration direction.

20. A method of removing a flow control element implanted in a lung passageway of a patient comprising:

positioning a removal instrument in the lung passageway;

coupling the removal instrument to the flow control element; and

withdrawing the removal instrument and the flow control element from the lung passageway.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of coupling comprises grasping the flow control element with a removal component on the removal instrument.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the removal component comprises a plurality of tips configured to grasp the flow control element.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising moving the flow control element into a collapsed configuration before the step of removing.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising positioning in the patients trachea a device having a channel, the removal instrument being positioned through the channel.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the device comprises a bronchoscope, the method further comprising viewing an internal region of the lung through the bronchoscope.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising moving at least a portion of the removal instrument into a collapsed configuration during the positioning step.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising moving at least a portion of the removal instrument into an expanded configuration before the step of coupling.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising moving an actuator associated with the removal instrument during the step of coupling.

29. A method of treating a lung passageway of a patient comprising:

implanting a flow control element in the lung passageway to restrict fluid flow in at least an inspiration direction therethrough;

positioning a removal instrument in the lung passageway;

coupling the removal instrument to the flow control element; and

withdrawing the removal instrument and the flow control element from the lung passageway.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of coupling comprises grasping the flow control element with a removal component on the removal instrument.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the removal component comprises a plurality of tips configured to grasp the flow control element.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the implanting step comprises moving the flow control element from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising moving the flow control element into the collapsed configuration before the step of removing.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising positioning in the patients trachea a device having a channel, the removal instrument being positioned through the channel.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the device comprises a bronchoscope, the method further comprising viewing an internal region of the lung through the bronchoscope.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising moving at least a portion of the removal instrument into a collapsed configuration during the positioning step.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising moving at least a portion of the removal instrument into an expanded configuration before the step of coupling.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising moving an actuator associated with the removal instrument during the step of coupling.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the flow control element comprises a valve, the valve restricting flow through the lung passageway in the inspiration direction and allowing fluid flow through the lung passageway in an expiration direction.