Methods and devices for use in performing pulmonary procedures

• US 6,694,979 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Emphasys Medical, Inc. (Pulmonx Corp.)
• Inventors: Sutton, Douglas S., Andreas, Bernard H., Chew, Sunmi, Fields, Antony J., Hundertmark, Ronald R., Rapacki, Alan R., French, Ronald, Wilson, Peter M., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Deem, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dagostino, Sabrina
• Application Number:
  US09/797,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/2, 623/9, 604/329, 600/31, 600/29, 606/158, 606/192, 128/885, 128/207.15, 128/203.15, 128/207.14
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• 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 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• 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 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• 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 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• 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 2/2476 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 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• 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

An implantable flow control element is provided which prevents air from entering an isolated portion of a patient'"'"'s lung. The element may permit air to escape from the isolated portion so that the element acts like a valve. Systems for implanting pulmonary devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve has a first lip and a second lip, the first and second lips engaging one another when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the first lip is stiffer than the second lip, the first lip biasing the second lip toward the closed position.

2. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve has a first lip and a second lip, the first and second lips engaging one another when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the first and second lips form a duckbill valve.

3. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve has a first lip and a second lip, the first and second lips engaging one another when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein the first and second lips form a heimlich valve.

4. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a plurality of rings;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the rings have different sizes so that they seal different size locations.

6. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

7. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of poppet, ball, duckbill, heimlich, flap, and leaflet.

8. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the body includes an expandable support structure.

9. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passgeway, comprising:

a body, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a helical ring;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of poppet, ball, duckbill, heimlich, flap, and leaflet.

12. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a frustoconical surface;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

14. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of poppet, ball, duckbill, heimlich, flap, and leaflet.

15. A device for controlling airflow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body, wherein the body has at least 10 bristles;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve.

16. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, and wherein the sealing portion is deflectable to permit the passage of air in an expiratory direction;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratoiy air to pass through the valve.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

18. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of poppet, ball, duckbill, heimlich, flap, and leaflet.

19. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a plurality of rings.

20. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of poppet, ball, duckbill, heimlich, flap and leaflet.

21. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body is expandable from a collapsed position to an expanded position.

22. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

23. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 5 inch water.

24. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 1 inch water.

25. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway.

26. A device as defined in claim 25, wherein the sealing portion is made of a resilient material.

27. A device as defined in claim 25, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a plurality of rings.

28. A device as defined in claim 27, wherein the rings have different sizes so that they seal different size locations.

29. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, wherein the sealing portion is a ring, and wherein the sealing portion has a frustoconical surface.

30. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body has a sealing portion which seals against the wall of the pulmonary passageway, and wherein the sealing portion is deflectable to permit the passage of air in an expiratory direction.

31. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the valve has a support structure with the valve mounted to the support structure, and wherein the body is coupled to the support structure with at least one connection, the connection being contained within an opening in the support structure so that the connection is free to move within the opening.

32. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body is made of an elastomeric material.

33. A device as defined in claim 20, wherein the body includes an expandable support structure and wherein the body covers only part of the expandable support structure.

34. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the valve is formed by a number of independent sections which each have an open position and a closed position, and wherein the independent sections are configured to form a valve with a portion of the wall of the pulmonary passageway, the independent sections engaging the wall in a closed position and being spaced apart from the wall in an open position.

35. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the body is expandable from a collapsed position to en expanded position.

36. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

37. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 5 inch water.

38. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 1 inch water.

39. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the body includes an expandable support structure.

40. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the valve is generally conical.

41. A device as defined in claim 34, wherein the body has a support structure with the valve mounted to the support structure.

42. A device as defined in claim 41, wherein the support structure is tapered to be larger at one end.

43. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the body has a support structure with the valve mounted to the support structure, and wherein the body is coupled to the support structure with at least one connection, the connection being contained within an opening in the support structure so that the connection is free to move within the opening.

44. A device as defined in claim 43, wherein the valve opens upon a pressure differential of no more than 10 inch water.

45. A device as defined in claim 43, wherein the support structure is tapered to be larger at one end.

46. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve, wherein the body has a support structure with the valve mounted to the support structure, and wherein the support structure is tapered to be larger at one end.

47. A device for controlling air flow in a pulmonary passageway, comprising:

a body;

a valve coupled to the body, the valve configured to prevent air from entering an isolated portion of the patient'"'"'s lung but permitting expiratory air to pass through the valve; and

a sealant on an exterior surface of the device.

48. A device as defined in claim 47, wherein the sealant is an adhesive.

49. A device as defined in claim 47, wherein the sealant is a flowable substance which conforms to the pulmonary site.