Methods and devices for maintaining patency of surgically created channels in tissue
First Claim
1. A conduit for maintaining the patency of a channel created in tissue, said conduit having a low-profile delivery state when the conduit is being delivered to said channel and an expanded deployed state when the conduit is deployed in said channel, said conduit comprising:
- a radially expandable center section having a first end and a second end and a passageway extending between said first and second ends, said passageway having an axis;
at least one extension member extending from each of said first end and said second end of said center section, each of said extension members having a fixed end connected to one of said first and second ends of the center section and a movable end such that each of said extension members is capable of being deflected about said fixed end to form an angle with said axis when said conduit is in said deployed state; and
a bioactive substance disposed on at least a portion of a surface of said conduit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods 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, methods and devices are disclosed that inhibit closure of channels surgically created through an airway wall such that 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. Devices, instruments, medicine, bioactive agents, or combinations thereof serve to maintain the patency of the surgically created channels. In one embodiment of the present invention, a conduit includes a bioactive coating that inhibits tissue overgrowth when the conduit is deployed in a surgically created channel. Still other methods and devices are described that serve to maintain surgically created channels.
268 Citations
58 Claims
-
1. A conduit for maintaining the patency of a channel created in tissue, said conduit having a low-profile delivery state when the conduit is being delivered to said channel and an expanded deployed state when the conduit is deployed in said channel, said conduit comprising:
-
a radially expandable center section having a first end and a second end and a passageway extending between said first and second ends, said passageway having an axis;
at least one extension member extending from each of said first end and said second end of said center section, each of said extension members having a fixed end connected to one of said first and second ends of the center section and a movable end such that each of said extension members is capable of being deflected about said fixed end to form an angle with said axis when said conduit is in said deployed state; and
a bioactive substance disposed on at least a portion of a surface of said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for improving pulmonary function in an individual comprising:
-
forming a channel through an airway wall tissue; and
treating the airway tissue such that the channel remains open to allow airflow through the channel into the airway. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
Specification