Methods and devices for use in performing pulmonary procedures

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a flow control element which limits fluid flow in at least one direction;
• (b) positioning the flow control element at a location in a lung of a patient with the one direction substantially corresponding to an inhalation direction;
• and
• (c) removing the flow control element.

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a flow control element which restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction, the flow control element being releasably coupled to a delivery device, wherein the delivery device has a sheath;
• placing an introducer in a bronchial passageway of a patient's lung;
• inserting a bronchial access device through the introducer, the bronchial access device having a first channel and a second channel;
• positioning the delivery device in the second channel;
• and
• deploying the flow control element at the treatment site, the deploying step comprising moving the sheath relative to the flow control element.

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a flow control element which restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction, the flow control element being releasably coupled to a delivery device;
• placing an introducer in a bronchial passageway of a patient's lung;
• inserting a bronchial access device through the introducer, the bronchial access device having a first channel and a second channel;
• positioning the delivery device in the second channel;
• and
• deploying the flow control element at the treatment site.

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a flow control element which restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction, the flow control element being releasably coupled to a delivery device;
• inserting a bronchial access device in a bronchial passageway of a patient's lung, the bronchial access device having a first channel and a second channel;
• positioning the delivery device in the second channel;
• deploying the flow control element at the treatment site;
• prior to carrying out the deploying step, determining the approximate size of the treatment site using a measuring device, wherein the measuring device is introduced through the second channel;
• and
• selecting an appropriately sized flow control element based at least in part on the determined size of the treatment site.