VISCERAL PLEURA RING CONNECTOR

• US 20080281295A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Original Assignee: Portaero, Inc
• Inventors: Tanaka, Don, Chang, Asia, Meretei, Attila, Nedvetsky, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00809 Lung operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/106 in a path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/03 Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1039 Lungs

Abstract

A visceral pleura ring connector that may be utilized to anchor and seal the visceral pleura to a conduit or other device entering the lung from a non-native airway. The visceral pleura ring connector may be positioned around the visceral pleura and an insertion device and seal them together without having to make any holes in the pleura. The visceral pleura ring connector may be utilized with a pulmonary pleural stabilizer to hold the visceral pleura of the lung during surgical procedures involving accessing the lung or lungs of a patient directly through the lung and not the native airways.

Claims

1. A device that can establish fluid communication with the lung outside of a natural airway to the lung comprising:

a communication device adapted to be connected to the lung in order to allow the removal of gasses from the lung;

a securing device positionable around the communication device in order to and adapted to secure the visceral pleura to the communication device.

2. The device of claim 1 including:

the securing device is adapted to hold the visceral pleura against the communication device.

3. The device of claim 1 including:

the securing device is adapted to seal the visceral pleura against the communication device.

4. The device of claim 1 including:

said securing device is a ring that can be positioned snugly about the communication device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of a super elastic material.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of polyglycolic acid.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is a ring that can be manually snugly fit about the visceral pleura that is against the communication device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is a split ring that can be manually snugly fit about the visceral pleura that is against the communication device.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is self-locking.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device includes a ratchet mechanism that is used to tighten the securing device.

12. The device of claim 1 including an agent provided with the securing device, wherein said agent promotes a pleurodesis reaction.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said agent can be one of incorporated into the securing device, provided on the surface of the securing device, and provided in channels of the securing device.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of a shape memory material.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of a shape memory material that is implanted with a first expanded diameter and once implanted contracts to a smaller diameter to snugly hold the visceral pleura to the communication device.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said securing device is comprised of a shape memory material that is implanted by expanding the securing device from a first contracted diameter and once implanted contracts to a diameter to snugly hold the visceral pleura to the communication device.

17. A device that can establish fluid communication with the lung outside of a natural airway to the lung comprising:

a communication device including a conduit adapted to be connected to the lung in order to allow the removal of gasses from the lung;

a securing device positionable around the communication device in order to and adapted to secure the visceral pleura to the communication device,

wherein said securing device includes a ring which has a pre-implantation configuration and a post-implantation configuration wherein in the post-implantation configuration the ring holds the visceral pleura against the communication device in an air tight manner.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring is comprised of a super elastic material.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring is comprised of a shape memory material.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring is comprised of polyglycolic acid.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring can be manually closed after being positioned.

23. The device of claim 17 wherein said ring includes a pleurodesis agent.