Methods and devices for passive residual lung volume reduction and functional lung volume expansion

• US 8,496,006 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Inventors: Aljuri, Nikolai, Perkins, Rodney C., Beyhan, Niyazi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUL, DOUGLAS YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/820,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20110152678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.26, 12820714-20716, 128/898, 623 111- 112, 600/529, 604/99.01, 604/99.03
• US Class Current: 128/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0813 Measurement of pulmonary parameters by tracers, e.g. radioactive tracers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/085 Measuring impedance of respiratory organs or lung elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/03 Computed tomography [CT] echo-tomography A61B8/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/003 with a flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1035 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/46 : Resistance or compliance of the lungs
• 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

Abstract

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the residual volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment, said method comprising:

sealing a distal end of a catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment by using an occluding member that is adapted to be expanded in an airway which feeds the hyperinflated lung compartment such that access to the compartment is provided only through a passage of the catheter when the occluding member is expanded;

allowing air to be expelled from the lung compartment through the passage in the catheter while the patient is exhaling;

blocking air from entering the lung compartment through the catheter passage while the patient is inhaling by using a one-way flow element adapted to be disposed within or in-line with the passage of the catheter so that flow in a distal-to-proximal direction is allowed and flow in a proximal-to-distal direction is inhibited or prevented; and

determining whether collateral ventilation is present in the lung compartment, wherein determining whether collateral ventilation is present comprises detecting, using a flow-measuring device, air flow or accumulation from the isolated lung compartment over time;

calculating, using a computer, a value of collateral resistance; and

diagnosing collateral ventilation between the target lung compartment and at least one adjacent lung compartment based on the value of collateral resistance calculated by the computer.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising blocking collateral flow channels if it is determined that the hyperinflated lung compartment has collateral flow channels with one or more adjacent lung compartments.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising introducing an oxygen-rich gas into the lung compartment after the volume is reduced to induce or promote absorption atelectasis.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising advancing the catheter through a bronchoscope to position the catheter distal end in the airway before sealing.