Devices, treatments and methods to restore tissue elastic recoil

A method of treating emphysema, comprising:

• advancing a distal end of a delivery device into an emphysematous lung, wherein the distal end contains a shape memory pulmonary treatment device loaded therein or thereon in an unexpanded configuration;
• positioning the distal end of the delivery device beyond a 4th generation airway into damaged tissue;
• deploying a distal portion of a pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device so that the distal portion expands into the damaged tissue;
• and
• deploying a proximal portion of the pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device into an airway so that the proximal portion engages walls of the airway anchoring the proximal portion,
• wherein the pulmonary treatment device internally stents the airway to maintain lumen patency.

A method of reducing residual volume within a lung of a patient that does not have an anatomically normal airway past a 4th generation airway in the lung due to tissue damage, the method comprising:

• advancing a delivery device having a distal end into a passageway of the lung;
• positioning the distal end of the delivery device beyond the 4th generation airway into damaged tissue of the lung;
• deploying a distal portion of a pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device into the damaged tissue so that the distal portion engages the damaged tissue;
• and
• deploying a proximal portion of the pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device into lung passageway associated with the 4th generation airway so that the proximal portion engages walls of the lung passageway anchoring the proximal portion of the treatment device,
• wherein the pulmonary treatment device acts in a stent-like manner, supporting the walls of the lung passageway to maintain patency thereby improving airflow to reduce residual volume within the lung.

A method of reducing trapped air within damaged tissue in a diseased lung, comprising:

• advancing a delivery device having a distal end into an airway of the diseased lung;
• deploying a distal portion of a pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device so as to puncture the wall of the airway in damaged tissue so that the distal portion of the pulmonary treatment device engages the damaged tissue;
• and
• deploying a proximal portion of the pulmonary treatment device from the distal end of the delivery device into the airway so that the proximal portion engages walls of the airway anchoring the proximal portion of the treatment device,
• wherein the pulmonary treatment device acts in a stent-like manner, supporting the walls of the airway to maintain patency between the airway and the damaged tissue thereby reducing trapped air within damaged tissue.