BRONCHIAL FLOW CONTROL DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for lung volume reduction of a patient are described. The methods include implanting a flow control device in a bronchial passageway of the lung. The flow control device regulates fluid flow through the bronchial passageway and includes a valve protector that at least partially surrounds a valve member. The valve protector has sufficient rigidity to maintain the shape of the valve member against compression.
208 Citations
12 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A method for deploying a flow control device in a bronchial passageway to regulate airflow to a targeted lung region, the method comprising:
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identifying the targeted lung region; determining a target location for deploying the flow control device in a bronchial passageway leading to the targeted lung region; approximating an inner diameter of the bronchial passageway at the target location; selecting an appropriately sized flow control device for deploying in the bronchial passageway, based on the approximated inner diameter; loading the selected flow control device into a delivery catheter; advancing the delivery catheter into the bronchial passageway to position the flow control device at the target location; deploying the flow control device out of the delivery catheter at the target location, wherein upon deployment the flow control device expands to form a seal with an inner wall of the bronchial passageway; and removing the delivery catheter. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification