Bronchial flow control devices with membrane seal
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising:
- a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, the valve having a default shape;
a frame coupled to the valve member, the frame including;
a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape, wherein the valve protector region comprises a plurality of struts; and
a retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the retainer region being formed of a plurality of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein, the retainer region being movable from a contracted state suitable for introduction into the bronchial passageway to an expanded state suitable for engaging the interior wall of the bronchial passageway; and
a membrane covering at least a portion of the retainer region, wherein at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway, and wherein the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a flow control device for a bronchial passageway. The device can includes a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, a frame coupled to the valve member, and a membrane attached to the frame. At least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway. The membrane forms a fluid pathway from the seal into the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member.
195 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising:
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a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, the valve having a default shape; a frame coupled to the valve member, the frame including; a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape, wherein the valve protector region comprises a plurality of struts; and a retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the retainer region being formed of a plurality of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein, the retainer region being movable from a contracted state suitable for introduction into the bronchial passageway to an expanded state suitable for engaging the interior wall of the bronchial passageway; and a membrane covering at least a portion of the retainer region, wherein at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway, and wherein the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising:
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a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, the valve having a default shape; a frame coupled to the valve member, the frame including; a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape, wherein the valve protector region comprises a tube and the tube has at least one window formed therein; and a retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the retainer region being formed of a plurality of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein, the retainer region being movable from a contracted state suitable for introduction into the bronchial passageway to an expanded state suitable for engaging the interior wall of the bronchial passageway; and a membrane covering at least a portion of the retainer region, wherein at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway, and wherein the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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50. A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising:
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a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, the valve having a default shape; a frame coupled to the valve member, the frame including; a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape; a first retainer region connected to the valve protector region; and a second retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the first retainer region being formed of a plurality Of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein, the first retainer region being movable from a contracted state suitable for introduction into the bronchial passageway to an expanded state suitable for engaging the interior wall of the bronchial passageway; and a membrane covering at least a portion of the first retainer region, wherein at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway, and wherein the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53)
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54. A flow control device for a bronchial passageway, comprising:
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a valve member that regulates fluid flow through the flow control device, the valve having a default shape; a frame coupled to the valve member, the frame including; a valve protector region that at least partially surrounds the valve member to maintain the default shape, wherein the valve protector region is collapsible from a normal shape to a collapsed shape; and a retainer region connected to the valve protector region, the retainer region being formed of a plurality of interconnected struts configured to engage an interior wall of the bronchial passageway to retain the flow control device in a fixed location therein, the retainer region being movable from a contracted state suitable for introduction into the bronchial passageway to an expanded state suitable for engaging the interior wall of the bronchial passageway; and a membrane covering at least a portion of the retainer region, wherein at least a portion of the flow control device forms a seal with the interior wall of the bronchial passageway when the flow control device is implanted in the bronchial passageway, and wherein the membrane provides a fluid pathway from the seal to the valve member to direct fluid flowing through the bronchial passageway into the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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Specification