Pulmonary occlusal stent delivery catheter, loading system and methods of use

• US 8,409,168 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Inventors: Wondka, Anthony, Soltesz, Peter P., Kotmel, Robert, Matov, Nadia, Crowder, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Vy Q
• Application Number:
  US12/730,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 604/35, 604/43, 604/101.02, 604/101.03, 604/101.04, 604/164.01, 604/164.03, 604/164.13, 604/171, 604/523, 604/912, 604/915
• US Class Current: 604/514
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• 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 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12086 magnetically detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices are provided for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions where isolation of a lung segment or reduction of lung volume is desired. The methods are minimally invasive with instruments being introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) and rely on isolating the target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung and occluding various lung passageways with the use of occlusal stents. The occlusal stents are delivered with the use of an occlusal stent delivery system which is loaded with the occlusal stent with the use of an occlusal stent loading system.

Claims

1. A method of introducing an implant into a lung passageway, the method comprising:

introducing a viewing scope into the lung passageway;

introducing a delivery catheter holding the implant into a lung passageway via the viewing scope, wherein the delivery catheter comprises a distal end with an outer surface having a marking configured as a stripe thereon which is visible through the viewing scope when the distal end of the catheter is in the passageway;

viewing the marking on the catheter to assist in positioning the distal end of the catheter in the lung passageway; and

deploying the implant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the delivery catheter within the lung passageway prior to deploying the implant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning step comprises aligning the marking with a target feature within the lung passageway.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the target feature is an ostium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is an occlusal stent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery catheter further comprises a second marking.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising viewing the marking and the second marking and aligning the marking and the second marking with respect to a target feature within the lung passageway.