Bronchoscopic repair of air leaks in a lung

• US 8,444,690 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Spiration, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Hugo Xavier, Springmeyer, Steven C, Sirokman, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US13/005,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 623/9, 12820712-20716
• US Class Current: 623/9
• 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 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi

Abstract

Systems and devices for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient'"'"'s airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion device is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The occluding device may be a one-way valve. The occluding device may also comprise strut members and anchors that penetrate an airway wall.

Claims

1. A system for use in treating an air leak in a lung, the system comprising:

a balloon catheter configured to occlude an airway and to simultaneously measure a diameter of the airway;

a delivery catheter configured to deliver an obstruction device into an airway of the lung;

at least one occlusion device adapted to occlude airflow in an inspiratory direction while allowing fluid to flow in an expiratory direction, wherein the occlusion device comprises a central connector rod extending proximally from a central portion thereof the occlusion device surrounding at least a portion of the central connector rod;

the occlusion device being configured such that fluid flow in the expiratory direction passes between an airway wall and a portion of the occlusion device; and

the occlusion device further being configured to expand and contract during expansion and contraction of surrounding lung tissue during a respiration cycle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the occlusion device comprises an hourglass-shaped frame.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hourglass-shaped frame comprises the central portion, a plurality of anchors extending radially outward and distally from the central portion, and a plurality of strut members extending radially outward and proximally from the central portion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the frame further comprises a flexible membrane supported by the strut members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter is sized to permit selection of one of a plurality of available obstruction members.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the occlusion device comprises anchors extending radially outward and distally from the central portion.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the anchors further comprise stops preventing the anchors from penetrating beyond a desired depth.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connector rod comprises a knob disposed at a proximal end thereof.