Removable lung reduction devices, systems, and methods

• US 7,757,692 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Spiration, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Alferness, Clifton A., Dillard, David H., Gonzalez, Hugo X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Pedro
• Application Number:
  US12/428,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 606/198, 606/108, 606/191, 606/106, 128/207.15, 128/207.14, 128/207.16, 128/200.26
• 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 17/12104 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 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: A61F 2002/043 Bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0404 with means for selective or partial lung respiration

Abstract

An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by recollapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

Claims

1. A device for limiting air flow in an air passageway in a lung, the device comprising:

an elongated frame assembly for implantation in the lung, the elongated frame assembly comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

the elongated frame assembly further comprising a plurality of support members extending in a proximal direction from the distal end, each of the plurality of support members comprising a bent portion, the bent portion being positioned along a distal portion of each of the plurality of support members;

a flexible membrane overlying at least an outer surface of at least the distal portion of each of the plurality of support members including the bent portion;

a proximally positioned concave recess being defined at least in part by the plurality of support members and the flexible membrane, the proximally positioned concave recess comprising a proximally facing substantially circular opening, wherein the flexible membrane forms a smooth outer surface and the plurality of support members is positioned between the concave recess and the smooth outer surface;

at least one anchor being distally positioned relative to the flexible membrane;

the device defining an obstructing structure configured to be implanted into the air passageway upstream from a target region such that the device precludes air from flowing into the target region past the device while allowing air to flow out of the target region along a path between a portion of the flexible membrane and a wall of the air passageway.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane overlies a generally conical portion defined by a portion of the plurality of support members.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of support members are connected to a generally cylindrical member and the flexible membrane is connected to the proximal ends of each of the plurality of support members.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of support members is an elongate strut extending radially from an attachment.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the flexible membrane has an at-rest shape configured to seal against the air passageway wall.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor extends radially outward from a generally cylindrical member.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of support members has a relatively long section extending distally from the bent portion and a relatively short section extending proximally from the bent portion, and the flexible membrane is disposed along at least the relatively long section of the frame.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the device is adapted to be grasped for removal through proximal movement of the device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is collapsible.