Cross-sectional modification during deployment of an elongate lung volume reduction device
First Claim
1. A method for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having an airway axis and a plurality of branching airways, the method comprising:
- advancing an implant distally into the airway system while the implant is in a delivery configuration, the implant having an elongate length defining an axis and a lateral bearing surface transverse to the axis, the lateral bearing surface of the implant having a bearing surface area when the implant is in the delivery configuration; and
deploying the implant within the airway by;
expanding the lateral bearing surface laterally from the axis of the implant and within the airway so as to increase the bearing surface area of the lateral bearing surface; and
bending the implant within the airway such that the implant bends the airway axis and locally compresses lung tissue along the implant by bearing laterally against a luminal surface of the airway so that tension in other lung tissue of the patient is increased to enhance lung function, andlimiting penetration of the implant through the luminal surface of the airway using the increased airway bearing surface area by performing the bending of the airway axis using engagement of the expanded lateral bearing surface against the luminal surface;
wherein the expanding of the lateral bearing surface further comprises resilient lateral expansion, the lateral bearing surface being laterally constrained within a lumen of a delivery catheter during advancing of the implant into the airway system and the catheter being withdrawn proximally during expanding of the lateral bearing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Elongate implant structures can be introduced into an airway system to a target airway axial region, often to apply lateral bending and/or compression forces against the lung tissue from within the airways for an extended period of time. Structures or features of the implants may inhibit tissue reactions that might otherwise allow portions of the device to eventually traverse through the wall of the airway. The devices may enhance the area bearing laterally on the tissue of a surrounding airway lumen wall. Embodiments may have features which increase the device friction with the airway to allow the device to grip the surrounding airway as the device is deployed. An appropriate adhesive may be introduced around the device in the lung. Hydrophilic material may inhibit biofilm formation, or features which induce some tissue ingrowth (stimulation of tissue growth) may enhance implanted device supported.
416 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having an airway axis and a plurality of branching airways, the method comprising:
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advancing an implant distally into the airway system while the implant is in a delivery configuration, the implant having an elongate length defining an axis and a lateral bearing surface transverse to the axis, the lateral bearing surface of the implant having a bearing surface area when the implant is in the delivery configuration; and deploying the implant within the airway by; expanding the lateral bearing surface laterally from the axis of the implant and within the airway so as to increase the bearing surface area of the lateral bearing surface; and bending the implant within the airway such that the implant bends the airway axis and locally compresses lung tissue along the implant by bearing laterally against a luminal surface of the airway so that tension in other lung tissue of the patient is increased to enhance lung function, and limiting penetration of the implant through the luminal surface of the airway using the increased airway bearing surface area by performing the bending of the airway axis using engagement of the expanded lateral bearing surface against the luminal surface; wherein the expanding of the lateral bearing surface further comprises resilient lateral expansion, the lateral bearing surface being laterally constrained within a lumen of a delivery catheter during advancing of the implant into the airway system and the catheter being withdrawn proximally during expanding of the lateral bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having a plurality of branching airways, the method comprising:
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advancing an implant distally into the airway system while the implant is in a delivery configuration, the implant having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate length defining an axis therebetween, the implant having a lateral bearing surface transverse to the axis; deploying the implant within the airway system by; expanding the lateral bearing surface from the axis within the airway system to increase an airway bearing surface area of the lateral bearing surface, wherein an interface between the expanded bearing surface of the deployed implant and the airway is hydrophilic and/or locally enhanced along the axis of the implant so as to limit damage to the airway during long-term implantation; and axially bending the implant so that the implant bends a first axial airway region toward a second axial airway region and locally compresses lung tissues between the first and second axial airway regions so that tension in other lung tissue of the patient is increased sufficiently to enhance lung function; wherein the expanding of the lateral bearing surface further comprises resilient lateral expansion, the lateral bearing surface being laterally constrained within a lumen of a delivery catheter during advancing of the implant into the airway system and the catheter being withdrawn proximally during expanding of the lateral bearing surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification