Methods to accelerate wound healing in thoracic anastomosis applications

A method for creating an anastomosis which comprises a channel through a chest wall joined to an opening in a visceral membrane of a lung using a fibrosis accelerating component, the method comprising:

• (a) creating the channel through the chest wall into a pleural space surrounding the lung;
• (b) forming an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of the lung to seal the channel from the pleural space;
• (c) creating an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel;
• and
• (d) inserting the fibrosis accelerating component in the channel such that it is in contact with newly exposed tissue of the channel.

A method for creating an anastomosis which comprises a channel through a chest wall joined to an opening in a visceral membrane of a lung, the method comprising:

• (a) creating the channel through the chest wall into a pleural space surrounding the lung;
• (b) forming an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of the lung to seal the channel from the pleural space;
• (c) creating an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel;
• and
• (d) receiving a medical device having a compression structure;
• (e) inserting the medical device into the channel and opening such that a first portion of the compression structure is outside the chest wall, a second portion of the compression structure is inside the lung, and a third portion of the compression structure is within the channel;
• and
• (f) configuring the compression structure so that the compression structure maintains a compressive force upon tissue surrounding the channel.

A method for creating an anastomosis which comprises a channel through a chest wall joined to an opening in a visceral membrane of a lung, the method comprising:

• (a) creating the channel through the chest wall into a pleural space surrounding the lung;
• (b) forming an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of the lung to seal the channel from the pleural space;
• (c) creating an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel;
• and
• (d) receiving a medical device having a compression structure and one or more drugs releasably affixed to the compression structure;
• (e) inserting the medical device into the channel such that a first portion of the compression structure is outside the chest wall, a second portion of the compression structure is inside the chest wall, and a third portion of the compression structure is within the channel;
• (f) configuring the compression structure so that the compression structure maintains a compressive force upon tissue surrounding the channel;
• and
• (g) delivering the one or more drugs to the channel.

A method for creating an anastomosis which comprises a channel through a chest wall joined to an opening in a visceral membrane of a lung, the method comprising:

• (a) creating the channel through the chest wall into a pleural space surrounding the lung;
• (b) forming an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of the lung to seal the channel from the pleural space;
• (c) creating an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel;
• and
• (d) receiving a medical device having a compression structure;
• (e) inserting the medical device into the channel such that a first portion of the compression structure engages an external surface of the chest wall, a second portion of the compression structure engages the lung, and a third portion of the compression structure engages the channel;
• and
• (f) adjusting a spacing between the first portion of the compression structure and the second portion of the compression structure to apply a compressive force upon tissue surrounding the channel.

A method for treating an anastomosis which comprises a channel through a chest wall joined to an opening in a visceral membrane of a lung, wherein the anastomosis was created by (a) creating the channel through the chest wall into a pleural space surrounding the lung, (b) forming an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of the lung to seal the channel from the pleural space, (c) creating an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel, and wherein the method for treating the anastomosis comprises the steps of:

• (d) receiving a medical device comprising an adjustable clamp which includes a first plate, a second plate and an adjustable spacer that controls the spacing between the first plate and the second plate;
• (e) inserting the adjustable clamp into the channel such that the first plate engages an external surface of the chest wall, the second plate engages the visceral membrane;
• and
• (f) adjusting the adjustable spacer such that the first plate and second plate apply a compressive force upon tissue surrounding the channel.

A method for treating an anastomosis which comprises (a) a channel through a chest wall, (b) an adhesion between the chest wall and a visceral membrane of a lung to seal a channel from a pleural space, and (c) an opening in the visceral membrane of the lung which communicates with the channel, and wherein the method for treating the anastomosis comprises the steps of:

• (d) receiving a medical device comprising a compression structure adapted to treat the anastomosis;
• (e) inserting the medical device through the anastomosis such that a first portion of the compression structure is outside the chest wall, a second portion of the compression structure is inside the lung, and a third portion of the compression structure is within the channel;
• and
• (f) configuring the compression structure so that the compression structure maintains a compressive force upon tissue surrounding the anastomosis.