Methods, systems and devices for improving ventilation in a lung area

An apparatus and kit for the purpose of directly ventilating a lung area, comprising:

• a. A catheter with a distal and proximal end with at least one lumen for fluid flow, comprising:
• i. at its distal end an anchoring means to anchor said distal end of said catheter in a bronchial lumen for extend periods while the catheter is unattended by a clinician;
• ii. comprising at its proximal end a connection means for connection to a ventilation control source external to the patient;
• iii. comprising between said distal and proximal ends a securing means concentric with the shaft of said catheter for sealing, tensioning and connecting said catheter shaft to the entry point of said catheter into the body;
• b. A ventilation Gas Control Unit comprising:
• i. an integral compressed supply of ventilation gas, or an input connection to an external ventilation gas supply, and comprising an output connection means for connection of said catheter's proximal end and comprising a coupling means to couple said gas with said catheter's fluid lumen, and comprising pressure or flow measurement and regulation means, such as but not limited to amplitude regulating valves, on-off valves, pumps, switches and sensors, to produce and regulate a desired output of said ventilation gas;
• ii. an integral vacuum supply means, or an input connection to an external vacuum supply, and comprising a connection means for connection of said catheter's proximal end and comprising a coupling means to couple said vacuum with said catheter's fluid lumen, and further comprising a pressure or flow measurement and regulation means such as but not limited to amplitude regulating valves, on-off valves, pumps, switches and sensors, to produce and regulate a desired output of said vacuum;
• iii. a user interface for selection of the desired output and ventilation parameters and for displaying selected, measured and regulated input and output parameters.

A system for site-specific ventilation of an area of a lung of a patient, comprising:

• an indwelling catheter adapted to be disposed in a bronchus of a poorly ventilated lung area to provide direct ventilation to that area, the indwelling catheter including at least one lumen, a distal end and a proximal end,
• an anchor disposed on the distal end of the catheter, the anchor being adapted to dilate a bronchus to secure the indwelling catheter in position for an extended time,
• a gas control unit coupled to the catheter to control flow through the lumen of the catheter,
• a gas delivery system coupled to the catheter and the gas control unit, the gas delivery system being adapted to provide ventilation gas through the lumen of the catheter to the area of the lung,
• a gas removal vacuum system coupled to the catheter and the gas control unit, the gas removal system being adapted to suction CO2 rich stagnant gas from the area of the lung through the lumen of the catheter,
• wherein the gas control unit is adapted to control the gas removal and delivery systems to deliver and suction gas through the catheter to and from the area of the lung without total lung mechanical ventilation and without collapsing the area of the lung.