Disease indications for selective endobronchial lung region isolation
First Claim
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1. A method of treating pulmonary hypertension in a human or mammal comprising blocking fluid flow in a bronchial passageway sufficiently to reduce pulmonary hypertension.
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Abstract
Disclosed are various disease indications and treatment methods that benefit from selective lung region isolation. A lung region is bronchially isolated by regulating the flow of fluid to and from the lung region, such as by implanting one or more bronchial isolation devices into one or more bronchial passageways that feed air to the lung region. The bronchial isolation devices can comprise, for example, one-way valves, two-way valves, occluders or blockers, ligating clips, glues, sealants, and sclerosing agents.
180 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A method of treating pulmonary hypertension in a human or mammal comprising blocking fluid flow in a bronchial passageway sufficiently to reduce pulmonary hypertension.
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3. A method of treating pulmonary hypertension in a human or mammal comprising:
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assessing a level of pulmonary hypertension of a patient; and
reducing fluid flow into a selected region of a lung until pulmonary hypertension is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of reducing pulmonary hypertension in a patient comprising:
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assessing pulmonary function;
comparing the pulmonary function to an eligibility threshold; and
if pulmonary function is higher than the eligibility threshold, blocking fluid flow into a selected region of the lung;
wherein pulmonary hypertension is reduced.
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8. A method of improving lung function of a patient comprising:
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measuring a lung function indicator to obtain an initial value;
comparing the initial value to a threshold value; and
if the initial value is higher than the threshold value, blocking fluid flow into one or more regions of the lung sufficiently to raise the lung function indicator above the initial value.
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9. A method of treating low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of a lung (DLCO) in a patient comprising:
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measuring an initial DLCO;
comparing the initial DLCO to a threshold DLCO; and
if the initial DLCO is higher than the threshold DLCO, blocking fluid flow into one or more regions of the lung sufficiently to achieve an increase in DLCO.
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10. A method of treating low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of a lung (DLCO) in a patient comprising blocking fluid flow into one or more regions of the lung to achieve an increase in DLCO without collapsing or removing the regions of the lung.
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11. A method of treating tuberculosis, comprising:
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bronchially isolating a lung region to reduce the delivery of oxygen to the lung region and deprive M. tuberculosis bacillus of oxygen in the lung region; and
in combination with bronchially isolating the lung region, administering a chemotherapeutic drug to the lung region.
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- 12. The method of claim 12, wherein the chemotherapeutic drug comprises isoniazid or rifampin.
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15. A method of treating an air leak in a lung of a patient, comprising:
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identifying at least one bronchial passageway that provides airflow to a region of the lung that contains the air leak;
blocking fluid flow through the identified bronchial passageway. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification