Collapsible intra-bronchial valve devices

• US 20040243140A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• 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:
  US10/848,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/106
• 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. A method of removing a deployed air passageway obstruction device from an air passageway in which the device is deployed, the method comprising:

advancing a catheter through a trachea and into the air passageway, the catheter having an internal lumen;

advancing a retractor through the internal lumen of the catheter to the device;

grasping a portion of the device with the retractor;

collapsing the device to free the device from deployment in the air passageway; and

then

pulling the device and the retractor proximally into the internal lumen of the catheter after collapsing the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collapsing the device comprises moving a proximal portion of the device proximally relative to a distal portion of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein grasping comprises grasping a proximal portion of the device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein grasping further comprises advancing a portion of the retractor through a center of the device and engaging a distal portion of the device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein collapsing comprises moving the proximal portion proximally relative to the distal portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein collapsing the device comprises reducing the diameter of the device to a diameter less than an internal diameter of the catheter.

7. An intra-bronchial obstruction device comprising:

a frame structure comprising a plurality of support members and at least one anchor member; and

an obstructing structure configured to prevent air flow in at least a first direction through a lumen in which the device is deployed;

wherein the frame structure is configured to be collapsed in response to a pair of opposing axial forces.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the obstructing structure comprises a membrane overlying and enclosing a portion of the frame structure.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a proximal ring at a proximal end of the device and a distal ring at a distal end of the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the proximal ring is configured to be engaged by endoscopic forceps.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the proximal ring comprises a central opening sized to receive a pin, and the distal ring being configured to engage the pin.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the frame structure is made of nickel titanium.