Methods and devices for inducing collapse in lung regions fed by collateral pathways

• US 20060283462A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Pulmonx
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Pulmonx
• Inventors: Fields, Antony J., Hundertmark, Ronald, McCutcheon, John
• Application Number:
  US11/509,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20060283462A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 2/91 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: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and devices for treating a patient'"'"'s lung region. A catheter is deployed into the lung. The catheter is used to apply heat to a targeted lung region wherein the heat affects fluid flow within the targeted lung region.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s lung region, comprising:

deploying a catheter into a lung;

using the catheter to apply heat to a targeted lung region wherein the heat affects fluid flow within the targeted lung region.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat reduces or terminates fluid flow within the targeted lung region.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat generates a reaction in tissue of the targeted lung region that results in a reduction or prevention of fluid flow within the targeted lung region.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat seals portions of the lung together.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat scleroses lung tissue within the targeted lung region

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat promotes fibrosis in or around the targeted lung region

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat creates an inflammatory response in the targeted lung region.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heat affects fluid flow by reducing or preventing collateral fluid flow into the targeted lung region.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein deploying a catheter into a lung comprises deploying a catheter through a bronchial tree into the targeted lung region such that a distal end of the catheter is positioned near the targeted lung region.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the heat is applied via the distal end of the delivery catheter.