Bronchoscopic repair of air leaks in a lung
AssigneeSpiration, Inc.
InventorsHugo Xavier Gonzalez, Steven C. Springmeyer, William A. Sirokman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and devices for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion device is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The occluding device may be a one-way valve. The occluding device may also comprise strut members and anchors that penetrate an airway wall.
Claims20
A system for use in treating an air leak in a lung, the system comprising:
- a balloon catheter configured to occlude an airway and to simultaneously measure a diameter of the airway;
- a delivery catheter configured to deliver an obstruction device into an airway of the lung, the delivery catheter further comprising a retractable sheath that is retractable in relation to the obstruction device;
- at least one occlusion device adapted to occlude airflow in an inspiratory direction while allowing fluid to flow in an expiratory direction;
- the occlusion device being configured such that fluid flow in the expiratory direction passes between an airway wall and a portion of the occlusion device;
- the occlusion device further being configured to expand and contract during expansion and contraction of surrounding lung tissue during a respiration cycle;
- the occlusion device further comprising a central connector rod;
- and
- a removal device comprising gripping elements configured to grip the central connector rod for removal of the occlusion device from the airway.
An occlusion device for treating an air leak in a lung, the device comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical center portion;
- a plurality of anchors extending radially outward from the distal end of the center portion;
- a plurality of strut members extending radially outward and proximally from the central portion, wherein the proximal ends of the strut members are encased by a flexible membrane;
- and,
- a central connector rod extending proximally from the central portion.
A system for use in treating an airway in a lung, the system comprising:
- a balloon catheter configured to measure the diameter of an airway;
- an occlusion device adapted to occlude airflow in an inspiratory direction while permitting fluid flow in an expiratory direction between an airway wall and a portion of the occlusion device, the occlusion device further comprising a central connector rod and anchors extending radially outward and distally from a central portion;
- a delivery catheter configured to deliver the obstruction device into the airway, wherein the delivery catheter comprises a distal cavity for retaining the occlusion device, and wherein the delivery catheter further comprises a retractable sheath that is retractable in relation to the occlusion device;
- and,
- a removal device comprising gripping elements configured to grip the central connector rod for removal of the occlusion device from the airway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.