Bronchoscopic repair of air leaks in a lung
First Claim
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1. A method of treating an air leak within a lung, the method comprising:
- detecting an air leak in a lung;
identifying an airway in fluid communication with the air leak using an inflatable balloon;
measuring a diameter of said airway in fluid communication with the air leak, wherein the measuring step is performed simultaneously with the identifying step and wherein the identifying and measuring steps are performed in multiple locations to generate a map of multiple portions of airways in fluid communication with the air leak; and
deploying a one-way valve in the airway, the one-way valve being adapted to allow air to flow in an expiratory direction, while preventing air from flowing in an inspiratory direction past the valve.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient'"'"'s airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The method can also include the injection of a substance into the airway on a distal side of the occlusion.
245 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of treating an air leak within a lung, the method comprising:
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detecting an air leak in a lung; identifying an airway in fluid communication with the air leak using an inflatable balloon; measuring a diameter of said airway in fluid communication with the air leak, wherein the measuring step is performed simultaneously with the identifying step and wherein the identifying and measuring steps are performed in multiple locations to generate a map of multiple portions of airways in fluid communication with the air leak; and deploying a one-way valve in the airway, the one-way valve being adapted to allow air to flow in an expiratory direction, while preventing air from flowing in an inspiratory direction past the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of treating an air leak within a lung, the method comprising:
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detecting an air leak in a lung; providing a balloon catheter configured to temporarily occlude airways within a lung; guiding the balloon catheter to a selected airway within the lung; inflating the balloon in the selected airway until the selected airway is occluded; recording a decrease in an air leak rate correlating to the occluding of the selected airway; measuring a size of the airway while the balloon is inflated; deflating the balloon; repeating the guiding, inflating, recording and measuring steps at another location until a desired location is identified and deploying a one-way valve in the airway in the desired location to occlude airflow in at least an inspiratory direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification