Collateral pathway treatment using agent entrained by aspiration flow current

• US 8,876,791 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Inventors: Wondka, Anthony, Soltesz, Peter, McCutcheon, John, Fields, Antony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosques, Edelmira
• Application Number:
  US12/883,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 604/500, 604/509, 128/207.15, 128/207.14
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12031 complete occlusion
• 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 2017/00809 Lung operations
• 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 2210/1039 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

A method and system for increasing the flow resistance of collateral pathways in the lung by employing aspiration to establish an artificial convective flow current between compartments in the lung in order to entrain and deliver a clogging agent preferentially to the collateral pathways. The method may sometimes be performed after lung has been assessed for the presence of collateral pathways.

Claims

1. A method of regulating air flow for a targeted lung region comprising a segment or lobe of the lung, the method comprising:

selecting a patient having a collateral pathway in the lung;

providing a mixture comprising autologous blood into lung tissue over a period of time;

reducing collateral air flow that flows through the collateral pathway between the targeted lung region and another segment or lobe of the lung by injecting the mixture into the targeted lung region; and

after reducing collateral flow to the targeted lung region, reducing direct air flow in a bronchus that provides direct air flow to the targeted lung region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting comprises:

deploying a delivery catheter through a bronchial tree into the targeted lung region such that a distal end of the delivery catheter communicates with the targeted lung region;

flowing the mixture through the delivery catheter so that the mixture exits the distal end of the delivery catheter into the targeted lung region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises a sclerosing agent that induces a reaction that causes sclerosis in the lung tissue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sclerosing agent is selected from the group consisting of tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing direct flow comprises implanting a flow control element which allows air flow in an exhalation direction and restricts air flow in an inspiration direction.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein reducing direct flow comprises implanting a flow control element which allows air flow in an exhalation direction and restricts air flow in an inspiration direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises a bulking agent, wherein the bulking agent is configured to cause the mixture to be released into tissue of the target lung region over a period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises radiographic contrast.