Method of compressing a portion of a lung

• US 7,549,984 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EKOS Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PneumRx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathis, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHARSKI, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US11/153,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/200.26, 128/203.12, 128/898, 606/108, 606/194, 604/96.01, 604/93.01, 604/509, 604/500, 604/122, 604/129, 604/99.03
• US Class Current: 604/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12095 Threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1054 having detachable or disposable balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 Lungs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0026 Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1027 Making of balloon catheters

Abstract

The invention provides methods of performing lung volume reduction to treat a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method of compressing a first portion of a lung of a patient including the following steps: providing a vent connecting the first portion of the lung to the exterior of the patient; isolating the first portion of the lung from a second portion of the lung adjacent the first portion; and delivering pressurized fluid to the second portion of the lung to compress the first portion of the lung.

Claims

1. A method of selectively compressing a lung of a patient comprising:

selecting one of a right lung or a left lung;

advancing a device through a trachea of the patient into the selected lung;

venting a first portion of the selected lung to the exterior of the patient through the device the first portion being targeted for compression;

isolating the first portion of the selected lung from a second portion of the selected lung adjacent the first portion; and

delivering sufficient pressurized fluid through one or more ports of the device to air passageways of the second portion of the selected lung to compress the first portion of the selected lung.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the isolating step comprises delivering an expandable device to an air passageway communicating with and proximal to the first portion of the selected lung.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of venting comprises venting the expandable device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the isolating step comprises delivering a plurality of expandable devices to air passageways communicating with and proximal to the first portion of the selected lung.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering pressurized fluid comprises delivering pressurized fluid at a pressure of at least 10 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of delivering pressurized fluid comprises delivering pressurized fluid at a pressure of at least 25 mm Hg above a atmospheric pressure.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of delivering pressurized fluid comprises delivering pressurized fluid at a pressure of at least 45 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of delivering pressurized fluid comprises delivering pressurized fluid at a pressure of at least 55 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising permitting fluid to enter the first portion of the selected lung when a difference between a fluid pressure within the first portion of the selected lung and a fluid pressure in the second portion of the selected lung exceeds about 2 mm Hg.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the permitting step comprises permitting fluid to enter the first portion of the selected lung when a difference between the fluid pressure within the first portion of the selected lung and the fluid pressure in the second portion of the selected lung exceeds about 10 mm Hg.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the permitting step comprises permitting fluid to enter the first portion of the selected lung when a difference between the fluid pressure within the first portion of the selected lung and the fluid pressure in the second portion of the selected lung exceeds about 20 mm Hg.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the permitting step comprises permitting fluid to enter the first portion of the selected lung when a difference between the fluid pressure within the first portion of the selected lung and the fluid pressure in the second portion of the selected lung exceeds about 50 mm Hg.

13. A method of compressing a first portion of one of a right lung or a left lung of a patient comprising:

selecting one of the right lung or the left lung;

isolating air passageways of a first portion of the selected lung from a second portion of the selected lung adjacent the first portion;

isolating the second portion of the selected lung from the atmosphere;

providing a vent connecting the first portion of the selected lung to the atmosphere; and

delivering sufficient pressurized fluid to the air passageways of the second portion of the selected lung to compress the first portion of the selected lung.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of isolating the first portion of the selected lung comprises delivering an expandable device to an air passageway communicating with and proximal to the first portion of the selected lung.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a vent comprises venting the expandable device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising permitting fluid to enter the first lung portion when a difference between fluid pressure within the first lung portion and fluid pressure in the second lung portion exceeds about 2 mm Hg.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of delivering pressurized fluid comprises delivering pressurized fluid at a pressure of at least 10 mm Hg above atmospheric pressure.