Methods and devices for passive residual lung volume reduction and functional lung volume expansion
First Claim
1. A catheter for isolating and deflating a hyperinflated lung compartment, said catheter comprising:
- a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein at least a distal portion of the catheter body is adapted to be advanced through the airways of the lung;
a transparent expandable occluding member disposed near a distal end of the catheter body, wherein said occluding member is adapted to be expanded in an airway which feeds the hyperinflated lung compartment such that access to the compartment is provided only through the lumen when the occluding member is expanded, and wherein the shape and material of the transparent occluding member are configured such that the transparent occluding member forms a wide angle lens, wherein the wide angle lens is formed by attaching a proximal end of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an outer surface of the catheter body and attaching a distal portion of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an inner surface of the lumen; and
a one-way flow element adapted to be disposed within or in-line with the lumen so that flow in a distal-to-proximal direction is allowed and flow in a proximal-to-distal direction is inhibited or prevented.
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Accused Products
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. The invention further discloses a catheter with a transparent occlusion element at its tip that enables examination of the lung passageway through a viewing scope.
136 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A catheter for isolating and deflating a hyperinflated lung compartment, said catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein at least a distal portion of the catheter body is adapted to be advanced through the airways of the lung; a transparent expandable occluding member disposed near a distal end of the catheter body, wherein said occluding member is adapted to be expanded in an airway which feeds the hyperinflated lung compartment such that access to the compartment is provided only through the lumen when the occluding member is expanded, and wherein the shape and material of the transparent occluding member are configured such that the transparent occluding member forms a wide angle lens, wherein the wide angle lens is formed by attaching a proximal end of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an outer surface of the catheter body and attaching a distal portion of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an inner surface of the lumen; and a one-way flow element adapted to be disposed within or in-line with the lumen so that flow in a distal-to-proximal direction is allowed and flow in a proximal-to-distal direction is inhibited or prevented. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A catheter for isolating and deflating a hyperinflated lung compartment, said catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein at least a distal portion of the catheter body is adapted to be advanced through the airways of the lung; and a transparent expandable occluding member disposed near a distal end of the catheter body, wherein said occluding member is adapted to be expanded in an airway which feeds the hyperinflated lung compartment such that access to the compartment is provided only through the lumen when the occluding member is expanded, and wherein the shape and material of the transparent occluding member are configured such that the transparent occluding member forms a wide angle lens, wherein the wide angle lens is formed by attaching a proximal end of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an outer surface of the catheter body and attaching a distal portion of the transparent occluding member circumferentially to an inner surface of the lumen; wherein the catheter is configured to connect to a console comprising a one-way flow control assembly in-line with the lumen so that flow in a distal-to-proximal direction is allowed and flow in a proximal-to-distal direction is inhibited or prevented. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification