Bronchial flow control devices and methods of use

• US 7,011,094 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pulmonx Corp.
• Original Assignee: Emphasys Medical, Inc. (Pulmonx Corp.)
• Inventors: Barrett, Michael, Rapacki, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIHIR B
• Application Number:
  US10/627,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20040060563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.16, 128/207.29, 128/200.24, 128/200.26, 128/912, 623/1.24, 623/1.25, 623/1.26, 623/23.65, 623/23.68, 623/23.7, 606/108, 606/200, 606/213, 606/217, 604/48, 604/249, 604/256
• US Class Current: 128/207.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12104 in an air passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2476 Valves implantable in the body not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 : conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 : ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 : hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 : Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 : the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 : Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A flow control device includes a sealing component that can be positioned within a bronchial lumen. The sealing component can comprise two or more overlapping segments that are movable relative to one another such that the segments collectively form a seal that can expand and contract in size to fit within and seal bronchial lumens of various sizes.

Claims

1. A method of regulating fluid flow to and from a region of an individual'"'"'s lung, comprising:

placing a flow control device in a bronchial passage in communication with the region, the flow control device having a first set of one or more deployable arms in a collapsed configuration; and

radially expanding the first set of one or more deployable arms into engagement with a wall of the bronchial passage to anchor the flow control device therein;

wherein the flow control device has a plurality of overlapping segments that are movable relative to one another and collectively form a seal with a wall of the bronchial lumen that can expand and contract in size.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the overlapping segments form a seal against fluid flow through the bronchial passage into the region and are movable to allow fluid flow through the bronchial passage out of the region.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the overlapping segments are supported by the first set of deployable arms.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising radially expanding a second set of one or more deployable arms into engagement with the wall of the bronchial passage.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the overlapping segments are supported by the second set of deployable arms.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising radially collapsing the first set of one or more deployable arms prior to placing the flow control device in the bronchial passage.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein radially collapsing the deployable arms comprises positioning a sleeve over at least a portion of the one or more deployable arms.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the sleeve is slidably coupled to the flow control device.

9. A method as defined in claims 7, wherein positioning the sleeve comprises moving an actuator element coupled to the sleeve.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising removing the flow control device from the bronchial passage after radially expanding the first set of one or more deployable arms.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein removing the flow control device comprises radially collapsing the first set of one or more deployable arms.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein radially collapsing the first set of one or more deployable arms comprises positioning a sleeve over at least a portion of the one or more deployable arms.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the overlapping segments collectively form a conical shape and wherein the diameter of the conical shape can vary as one segment moves with respect to another segment.