BRIDGE ELEMENT FOR LUNG IMPLANT

• US 20080295829A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Original Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Inventors: Evens, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US12/034,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20080295829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00951 adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents as cosmetic articles, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. wigs, hair pieces, A41G3/00, A41G5/00; artificial nails A45D31/00; dental prostheses A61C13/00; materials for prostheses A61L27/00; artificial hearts A61M60/00; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/106 in a path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/025 through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0252 for access to the lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0261 Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0276 for introducing or removing fluids into or out of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0279 for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0297 : at least part of it being inflatable, e.g. for anchoring, sealing or removing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 : introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 : Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 : Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/101 : Pleural cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 : Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 : Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 : Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 : in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 : Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053

Abstract

A bridging element is utilized to hold and secure a device passing between the ribs of a patient and into the lung. The bridging element may comprise a hole or other fitting to secure the device positioned in the lung.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a bridging element configured and adapted to be attached to one or more ribs in a patient; and

at least one fitting associated with the bridging element and configured and adapted to receive a device that is connected to a lung of a patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one fitting includes a hole.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said at least one fitting is adapted to secure a conduit relative to one or more ribs.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said bridging element includes a first fastener and a second fastener;

said first fastener is adapted to attach said bridging element to a first rib; and

said second fastener is adapted to attach said bridging element to a second rib.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the first fastener includes one of a pin, a screw, a clamp, an adhesive, and a cement.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridging element is comprised of one of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, and a ceramic.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridging element is a plate and said fitting is a hole provided through said plate.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridging element includes a first plate and a second plate and wherein said first plate is adapted to be positioned on a first side of a rib and said second plate is adapted to be positioned on a second side of a rib.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridging element includes a fastener that is adapted to be one of permanently affixed and temporarily affixed to a rib.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said fitting is made of flexible material.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said fitting is made of a material that allows for movement of at least one rib.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said bridging element is a biological material and said fastener is one of an adhesive, and a cement.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein:

said bridging element includes a fastener adapted to attach said bridging element to a rib; and

said fastener includes one of a pin, a screw, a clamp, an adhesive, and a cement.

14. An implantable medical device comprising:

a bridging element configured and adapted to be attached to one or more ribs in a patient;

said bridging element is comprised of material allows for movement of at least one rib;

at least one fitting associated with the bridging element and configured and adapted to receive a device that is connected to a lung of a patient;

wherein said at least one fitting includes a hole provided through said bridging element; and

a fastener adapted to affix the bridging element to at least one rib.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said bridging element is comprised of one of a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, and a ceramic.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said bridging element is made of a flexible material.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said fastener includes one of a pin, a screw, a clamp, an adhesive, and a cement.

18. A method of placing an implant through a chest wall and into a lung comprising the steps of:

selecting a bridging element that includes a fitting that is adapted to receive an implant that is to be positioned through the chest wall and into a lung;

accessing at least one rib;

securing the bridging element to at least one rib; and

implanting the device through the fitting.

19. The method of claim 18 including the steps of:

selecting a bridging element wherein said fitting is a hole; and

implanting the device through the hole.

20. The method of claim 18 including the steps of:

selecting a bridging element wherein said fitting is a hole; and

either before or after the bridging element is secured to a rib, making a hole in a rib adjacent to where the fitting hole is positioned.