Removable lung reduction devices, systems, and method

• US 20040211412A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Alferness, Clifton A., Dillard, David H., Gonzalez, Hugo X.
• Application Number:
  US10/847,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211412A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• 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 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• 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 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0404 with means for selective or partial lung respiration

Abstract

An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

Claims

1. An intra-bronchial valve device configured to be implanted within an air passageway of a lung, the device comprising:

a frame comprising a plurality of elongate frame supports joined to one another at first and second attachment points, wherein each frame support assumes an at-rest shape with a substantially straight center portion and a pair of oppositely extending inwardly arcuate end portions; and

a flexible membrane disposed on the frame and covering at least portions of the frame supports, the membrane being sealed to the frame to prevent airflow between a first side of the membrane and a second side of the membrane.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane is attached to the supports so as to preclude airflow from the concave side to the convex side of the membrane while permitting air to flow from the convex side to the concave side along a path between the membrane and a portion of an air passageway wall.

3. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment points are located at ends of the elongate support members.

4. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 1, wherein the elongate support members comprise sections of resilient wire.

5. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 1, wherein the first attachment point of the frame is configured to be engaged by a retractor device.

6. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 5, wherein the frame is configured such that pulling the frame into a catheter lumen causes the frame to collapse.

7. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 1, further comprising at least one anchor member extending from the first or the second attachment point, said anchor member being configured to directly engage a portion of the air passageway wall.

8. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 7, wherein the anchor member extends from a distal end of the frame.

9. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 7, wherein the anchor member is configured to puncture portions of the air passageway wall.

10. An intra-bronchial valve device comprising:

a frame comprising a plurality of elongate frame supports having first and second ends joined by at first and second common attachment points;

a flexible membrane disposed on the frame and covering at least portions of the frame supports, the membrane having a concave side and a convex side;

wherein the device is configured to be implanted within an air passageway of a patient, and wherein the membrane is attached to the supports so as to preclude airflow from the concave side to the convex side of the membrane while permitting air to flow from the convex side to the concave side along a path between the membrane and a portion of an air passageway wall.

11. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 10, wherein the frame assumes an at-rest shape with a substantially cylindrical center portion and a pair of oppositely extending inwardly arcuate end portions.

12. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 10, wherein the frame is configured to be engaged by a retractor device and to be pulled into a lumen of a removal catheter.

13. The intra-bronchial valve of claim 12, wherein the frame is configured such that pulling the frame into a catheter lumen causes the frame to collapse.