One-way valve devices for anchored implantation in a lung

A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a target section of the lung, the method including the steps of:

• delivering within a lung air passageway leading to the target section an intra-bronchial valve device having an obstructing means carried on a support structure, the obstructing means being configured to preclude air from being inhaled into the target section, while allowing air to be exhaled from the target section, the valve device further comprising at least one proximal anchoring means and at least one distal anchoring means;
• deploying the valve device at a desired location within the air passageway so as to cause the at least one proximal anchoring means and the at least one distal anchoring means to move from a delivered state in which the anchoring means are spaced from an air passageway wall to an anchored state in which the anchoring means engage the wall;
• and
• releasing the at least one proximal and distal anchoring means from engagement with the air passageway wall and removing the valve device from the desired location by engaging a portion of the valve device.

A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a portion of the lung with a removable device, the method including the steps of:

• providing an intra-bronchial device comprising a support structure, an obstructing means carried by the support structure which is so dimensioned when deployed in an air passageway communicating with the portion of the lung to be collapsed to preclude air from being inhaled, and at least one anchoring means carried by the support structure that anchors the obstructing means when at least one anchoring means is deployed;
• placing the obstructing means in the air passageway;
• deploying at least one anchoring means;
• and
• removing at least the obstructing means.

An intra-bronchial device for placement in an air passageway of a lung, the device comprising:

• an obstructing means configured when deployed to substantially seal against a wall of the air passageway and preclude fluid flow in at least one direction past the obstructing means, the obstructing means being generally umbrella-shaped;
• a first anchor positioned at one end of the obstructing member and terminating at a plurality of first anchor means;
• and
• a second anchor positioned at the other end of the obstructing means and terminating at a plurality of second anchor means;
• and
• a support structure having a distal end and a proximal end, the support structure positioned between the first anchor and the second anchor, wherein at least one of the first anchor means is positioned distally to the distal end of the support structure;
• wherein the first and the second anchors are configured to prevent substantial migration of the device within the air passageway when the anchors are deployed and are releasable to permit removal of the device from said passageway.