Lung assist apparatus and methods for use

• US 7,393,363 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gateway Edi (Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Edi (Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.)
• Inventors: Ginn, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/421,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.64, 623/23.65, 623/23.68, 623/1.31, 623/1.35
• US Class Current: 623/23.64
• 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 2/04 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 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2476 Valves implantable in the body not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/852 Two or more distinct overlapping stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/821 Ostial stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers

Abstract

A lung-assist apparatus includes a tubular housing, a tubular nozzle therein, and a first valve disposed between the housing and nozzle. The housing is implanted across a bifurcation such that the nozzle extends from a first branch communicating with a healthy region of a lung towards a main passage, and terminates proximate a lateral opening in the housing that is disposed within a second branch communicating with a damaged region of the lung. During inhalation, the first valve opens to allow air flow into the first branch, and closes during exhalation to force air through the nozzle, thereby inducing a vacuum for drawing air from the damaged region. A second valve in the second branch opens during exhalation to draw air from the diseased region, and closes during inhalation to prevent air from being drawn into the damaged region.

Claims

1. A lung assist device comprising:

a venturi tube having a first proximal end adapted to be coupled to a main branch of a lung and a second distal end adapted to be coupled to a first branch of a lung which communicates with the main branch, said venturi tube having an aperture in the wall thereof, which aperture is adapted to be located proximate to the opening of a second branch of the lung, which opening communicates with said main branch, said venturi having a neck between said first end and said second end and said aperture being located in the region of said neck, and

a support structure for said venturi tube, said support structure having a tubular body which is coupled to said venturi tube in at least partially surrounding relationship to said venturi tube.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a bifurcated tubular body comprising a main tube which houses the venturi tube and a side tube which has a proximal end communicating with said aperture and a distal end extending away from said main tube.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said side tube has a valve therein, which valve permits air flow toward said first proximal end of said venturi tube, but limits air flow through the distal end of said side tube.