Apparatus and methods for reducing lung volume
First Claim
1. An apparatus for isolating a region of a lung, comprising:
- an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end having a size for insertion into a bronchial passage, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a closure device carried by the distal end, the closure device comprising a plurality of tines that are movable between contracted and expanded conditions; and
a deflecting element carried by the distal end of the elongate member, at least one of the deflecting element and the closure device being movable relative to the other for engaging the closure device with the deflecting element to deflect the tines outwardly towards the expanded condition for engaging tissue surrounding the distal end;
the tines being collapsible towards the contracted condition for drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for reducing the volume of a lung using a clip including a plurality of tines. The clip is advanced along an interior of a bronchial passage to a predetermined location with the tines in a contracted condition. The tines are expanded outwardly to engage surrounding tissue, and then collapsed towards the contracted condition, thereby drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage from air flow therethrough. Optionally, electrical energy may be applied to the surrounding tissue after collapsing the tines to the contracted condition, thereby fusing the surrounding tissue together. The clip is then released within or removed from the passage.
249 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for isolating a region of a lung, comprising:
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an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end having a size for insertion into a bronchial passage, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a closure device carried by the distal end, the closure device comprising a plurality of tines that are movable between contracted and expanded conditions; and
a deflecting element carried by the distal end of the elongate member, at least one of the deflecting element and the closure device being movable relative to the other for engaging the closure device with the deflecting element to deflect the tines outwardly towards the expanded condition for engaging tissue surrounding the distal end;
the tines being collapsible towards the contracted condition for drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for reducing volume of a lung using a closure device comprising a plurality of tines movable between contracted and expanded conditions, the method comprising:
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advancing the closure device with the tines in the contracted condition along a bronchial passage to a predetermined location;
expanding the tines outwardly towards the expanded condition to engage tissue surrounding the predetermined location; and
collapsing the tines towards the contracted condition, thereby drawing the surrounding tissue inwardly to substantially close the bronchial passage from air flow through the predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification