Endobronchial fluid exhaler devices and methods for use thereof

• US 20080167614A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aharon Shapira, David Tolkowsky
• Original Assignee: Aharon Shapira, David Tolkowsky
• Inventors: Tolkowsky, David, Shapira, Aharon
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0009 with sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. during expiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/103 rotating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8281 spring operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1035 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Apparatus is provided, including a first rotating member configured to be implanted in an airway of a subject and rotated in an inhalation direction by an inhaled flow of fluid in the airway. A mechanical energy accumulator is configured to accumulate energy from the rotation of the first rotating member. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a first rotating member configured to be implanted in an airway of a subject and rotated in an inhalation direction by an inhaled flow of fluid in the airway; and

a mechanical energy accumulator that is configured to accumulate energy from the rotation of the first rotating member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover, wherein a portion of the apparatus is shaped to define an opening, and wherein the cover is configured to reversibly cover the opening.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a placeholder configured to hold the rotating member and the mechanical energy accumulator within the airway.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the placeholder comprises a portion that is shaped as a spiral, and wherein the spiraling of the portion of the placeholder is configured to affect a flow of fluid therethrough.

27. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the placeholder is expansible.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the placeholder is self-expansible.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a grabbing feature, wherein the placeholder is configured to be expanded by applying a force to the grabbing feature.

33. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator comprises a spring configured to be wound by extracting energy from motion of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body in which the apparatus is disposed.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator comprises a spring, and wherein the spring is configured to assist exhalation of fluid from the airway by rotating the rotating member in an exhalation-assisting direction by the spring unwinding.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the rotating member comprises a propeller coupled to an axis, and wherein the propeller is configured to wind the spring by rotating the axis.

42. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator is configured to assist exhalation of fluid from the airway during an exhalation phase of a respiratory cycle of the subject.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator is configured not to assist exhalation of fluid from the airway during an inhalation phase of a respiratory cycle of the subject.

44. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator comprises a spring that is configured to accumulate energy by being wound during N inhalations of the subject, and wherein the spring is configured to release energy by unwinding during fewer than N exhalations of the subject.

46. The apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a phase of a respiratory cycle of the subject, wherein the mechanical energy accumulator is configured to release energy in response to the detected phase.

52. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member comprises a first propeller and a second propeller disposed concentrically to the first propeller, the second propeller having airfoils that are disposed in a different direction from airfoils of the first propeller, and the second propeller being configured to be rotated by unwinding of the mechanical energy accumulator.

2-9. -9. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

16-26. -26. (canceled)

30-32. -32. (canceled)

34-35. -35. (canceled)

38-41. -41. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

47-51. -51. (canceled)

53-54. -54. (canceled)

55. Apparatus for use with a portion of a subject'"'"'s body that undergoes cyclical motion, the apparatus comprising:

an energy accumulator configured to store energy from movement of the subject'"'"'s body over a period of time in which the body portion undergoes N cycles, N being two or more; and

an energy release mechanism configured to release the stored energy during fewer than N cycles.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the energy accumulator is configured not to accumulate energy at the same time as the energy release mechanism releases energy.

58. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the energy accumulator comprises a rotating member configured to be rotated by a flow of fluid through the subject'"'"'s body.

61. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the energy accumulator comprises a spring configured to accumulate energy by being contracted by movement of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body.

62. The apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the spring is configured to be placed in a vicinity of a heart of the subject and is configured to be contracted by movement of the subject'"'"'s heart.

63. The apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the spring is configured to be placed inside a heart of the subject and is configured to be contracted by movement of the subject'"'"'s heart.

57. (canceled)

59-60. -60. (canceled)

64-66. -66. (canceled)

67. Apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to be implanted in a subject'"'"'s body; and

an energy extractor configured to extract energy from a flow of a fluid within the subject'"'"'s body and to power the sensor using the extracted energy.

68-71. -71. (canceled)

72. A method, comprising:

extracting energy from a flow of fluid that is inhaled by a subject;

storing the extracted energy in an airway of the subject; and

releasing the energy when the subject exhales.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein extracting energy comprises extracting energy during N inhalations of the subject, and wherein releasing energy comprises releasing energy during fewer than N exhalations of the subject.

74. The method according to claim 72, wherein releasing the energy comprises assisting exhalation of the subject in synchronization with a respiratory cycle of the subject.

86. The method according to claim 72, further comprising inserting an energy extractor into an airway of the subject, the energy extractor being configured to extract the energy from the inhaled flow of fluid.

89. The method according to claim 86,

wherein the energy extractor includes at least an expansible portion, and

wherein inserting the energy extractor comprises:

inserting an expansible structure into the airway,

expanding the expansible structure,

inserting the expansible energy extractor into the airway, and

coupling the energy extractor to the expansible structure by expanding the expansible portion of the energy extractor.

90. The method according to claim 86, wherein inserting the energy extractor comprises expanding an expansible structure that is coupled to the energy extractor while the energy extractor is within the airway.

91. The method according to claim 90, further comprising contracting the expansible structure and removing the expansible structure and the energy extractor from the airway subsequent to the contracting.

92. The method according to claim 90, further comprising inserting a bronchoscope into the airway, wherein inserting the energy extractor comprises inserting the energy extractor via the bronchoscope, and wherein expanding the structure comprises expanding the structure while the bronchoscope is within the airway.

94. The method according to claim 86, wherein inserting the energy extractor comprises:

inserting an expansible structure into the airway,

expanding the expansible structure,

inserting the energy extractor into the airway, and

coupling the energy extractor to the expansible structure.

96. The method according to claim 72, further comprising extracting energy from motion of a portion of the subject'"'"'s body.

98. The method according to claim 72, wherein storing the extracted energy comprises winding a spring, and wherein releasing the stored energy comprises unwinding the spring.

106. The method according to claim 72, further comprising detecting a phase of a respiratory cycle of the subject, wherein extracting energy comprises extracting energy in synchronization with the respiratory cycle and wherein releasing energy comprises releasing energy in synchronization with the respiratory cycle.

75-85. -85. (canceled)

87-88. -88. (canceled)

93. (canceled)

95. (canceled)

97. (canceled)

99-105. -105. (canceled)

107-110. -110. (canceled)

111. A method for use with a portion of a subject'"'"'s body that undergoes cyclical motion, the method comprising:

extracting energy from movement of the subject'"'"'s body over a period of time in which the body portion undergoes N cycles, N being two or more;

storing the extracted energy; and

releasing the energy during fewer than N cycles.

114. The method according to claim 111, wherein extracting energy comprises extracting energy from a flow of fluid through the subject'"'"'s body.

116. The method according to claim 114, wherein extracting energy comprises extracting energy from a flow of fluid through an airway of the subject.

112-113. -113. (canceled)

115. (canceled)

117-119. -119. (canceled)

122. A method comprising:

extracting energy from a flow of a fluid within a subject'"'"'s body; and

powering a sensor that is implanted in the subject'"'"'s body using the extracted energy.

123. The method according to claim 122, wherein extracting energy comprises extracting energy by rotating a rotating member.

124-126. -126. (canceled)