Bronchial flow control devices and methods of use

• US 20060076023A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Pulmonx
• Original Assignee: Emphasys Medical, Inc. (Pulmonx Corp.)
• Inventors: Barrett, Michael, Rapacki, Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/289,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20060076023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.150
• 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 17/1204 temporary 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 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• 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: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2476 Valves implantable in the body not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 : conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 : ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 : hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 : Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 : the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 : Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A flow control device includes a sealing component that can be positioned within a bronchial lumen. The sealing component can comprise two or more overlapping segments that are movable relative to one another such that the segments collectively form a seal that can expand and contract in size to fit within and seal bronchial lumens of various sizes.

Claims

1. A flow control device for placement in a bronchial passageway comprising:

a frame configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, the frame comprising a plurality of struts, the struts being fixed at a distal hub and a proximal hub of the frame, wherein the struts are biased outward and self-expand when unimpeded, and wherein the struts of the frame form a tube shape when the frame is in the contracted configuration, and when in the expanded configuration the struts of the frame expand between the distal and proximal hubs to an outward diameter such that the diameter of the frame at the hubs is tapered compared to the diameter of the frame between the hubs thereby forming a seal with the bronchial passageway.

2. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein a membrane is draped over the struts such that the membrane seals against the bronchial passageway when the frame is in the expanded configuration.

3. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein expansion of the struts reaches an outwardmost diameter midway between the distal and proximal hubs.

4. The flow control device of claim 1, further comprising a retainer element protruding laterally from the frame to prevent migration of the flow control device in the bronchial passageway.

5. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the struts are curved.

6. A flow control device for placement in a bronchial passageway comprising:

a frame comprising a plurality of struts having distal ends coupled to a distal hub and proximal ends connected to a proximal hub, the struts being outwardly expanded therebetween, wherein the frame urges a membrane into engagement with a wall of the bronchial passageway to form a seal therewith.

7. The flow control device of claim 6, wherein a membrane is draped over the struts such that the membrane seals against the wall of the bronchial passageway when the struts are outwardly expanded.

8. The flow control device of claim 6, wherein expansion of the struts reaches an outwardmost diameter midway between the distal and proximal hubs.

9. The flow control device of claim 6, further comprising a retainer element protruding laterally from the frame to prevent migration of the flow control device in the bronchial passageway.

10. The flow control device of claim 6, wherein the struts are curved.