Method for lung volume reduction

• US 6,997,189 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ekos LLC (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Broncus Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Biggs, Michael, Loomas, Bryan Eugene, Bagade, Sanjay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/628,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 623/23.64, 623/23.65
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices

Abstract

Methods and assemblies for reducing the volume of a lung. A plurality of anchors are anchored at different positions in the lung. A cord is attached to each of the anchors. The anchors are drawn towards one another via the cords to cause the lung to collapse, thus compressing the tissue in the lung and establishing a reduction in lung volume.

Claims

1. A method of lung volume reduction comprising:

advancing an anchor into a passage of the lung;

inserting the anchor into tissue attaching a line to the anchor; and

reducing a volume of a portion of the lung by drawing upon the line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the anchor comprises inserting the anchor into the pleura of the lung.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the anchor comprises inserting the anchor into healthy tissue that is adjacent to diseased tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the anchor comprises inserting the anchor into diseased tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a bio-absorbable material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the line comprises a bio-absorbable material.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising promoting tissue growth to at least partially encapsulate the anchor prior to the act of drawing on the line.

8. The method of claim 7, where promoting tissue growth comprises applying a fibrosing agent to the tissue.

9. The method of claim 7, where promoting tissue growth comprises inserting the anchor into lung tissue and waiting for a healing response to cause tissue growth.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting an obstructive member into an airway of the lung that is in fluid communication with the reduced portion of the lung.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a valve into an airway of the lung that is in fluid communication with the reduced portion of the lung.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating at least one opening in the airway wall, where the opening is in fluid communication with lung parenchyma.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising placing a conduit within one or more of the openings in the airway wall.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a jacket over the reduced portion of the lung.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing at least a second anchor into the lung.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching the line to at least the second anchor.

17. The method of claim 16, where attaching the line to the second anchor comprises using a connector.

18. The method of claim 16, where reducing the volume comprises shortening the length of the line between the anchors.

19. The method of claim 15, where reducing the volume comprises connecting at least two of the anchors with one or more lines and shortening the length of the lines connecting the anchors.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising using one or more connectors to connect the one or more lines.