Apparatus and methods for reducing lung volume
First Claim
1. An apparatus for isolating a region of a lung, comprising:
- a closure device comprising a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element comprising a first end defining a tissue penetrating tip, a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate region between the first and second ends, and a hinged region pivotally coupling the intermediate regions of the elongate elements together such that the first ends are movable from a contracted condition away from one another towards an expanded condition when the second ends are directed towards one another.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for reducing the volume of a lung using a clip including a plurality of tines. The clip is advanced along an interior of a bronchial passage to a predetermined location with the tines in a contracted condition. The tines are expanded outwardly to engage surrounding tissue, and then collapsed towards the contracted condition, thereby drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage from air flow therethrough. Optionally, electrical energy may be applied to the surrounding tissue after collapsing the tines to the contracted condition, thereby fusing the surrounding tissue together. The clip is then released within or removed from the passage.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for isolating a region of a lung, comprising:
a closure device comprising a plurality of elongate elements, each elongate element comprising a first end defining a tissue penetrating tip, a second end opposite the first end, and an intermediate region between the first and second ends, and a hinged region pivotally coupling the intermediate regions of the elongate elements together such that the first ends are movable from a contracted condition away from one another towards an expanded condition when the second ends are directed towards one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
5. A device for closing a bronchial passage, comprising:
-
an annular body defining an opening therethrough and including a plurality of tines extending from the body away from the opening, the body being compressible from an expanded condition towards a contracted condition for facilitating introduction into a bronchial passage; and
a flexible membrane extending across the opening for substantially sealing the opening from air flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for reducing volume of a lung using a closure device comprising a planar body from which a plurality of tines extend, the tines being movable between contracted and expanded conditions, the method comprising:
-
advancing the closure device with the tines in the contracted condition along a bronchial passage to a predetermined location; and
expanding the tines outwardly towards the expanded condition to engage tissue surrounding the predetermined location, whereby the planar body substantially seals the bronchial passage from air flow through the predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
Specification