Abstract
A device, system, and method provides for lung size reduction by permanently collapsing at least a portion of a lung. The lung portion may be collapsed by obstructing the air passageway which communicates the lung portion to be collapsed. The air passageway may be obstructed by an obstructing member which precludes airflow in either direction or with a one-way valve which permits air to be exhaled from the lung portion while precluding air from being inhaled into the lung portion. In addition, a vacuum may be pulled within the lung portion to be collapsed for collapsing the lung portion and while the lung portion is collapsed the obstructing member may be placed in the air passageway to maintain the lung portion in a permanently collapsed state.
Filing date: Oct 10, 2000
Issue date: Jul 10, 2001
Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Richard Y. Lin, Wilfred E. Jaeger
Assignee: Spiration, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Eduardo C. Robert
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What is claimed is:
1. A method of reducing lung size of a lung, the method including obstructing an air passageway communicating with a portion of the lung, the obstructing step including the step of placing a one-way valve in the air passageway to permit air to be exhaled from the lung portion and to preclude air from being inhaled into the lung portion for collapsing the lung portion.
2. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of inserting a conduit into the air passageway communicating with the lung portion and pulling a vacuum in the lung portion through the conduit.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the conduit includes an outer surface, and wherein the step of pulling a vacuum includes sealing between the outer surface of conduit and the air passageway.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of placing the one-way valve in the air passageway is performed after the pulling of the vacuum.
5. A method of reducing lung size of a lung, the method including the steps of:
- inserting a conduit down a trachea, into a mainstem bronchus, into a bronchial branch, and into a bronchial sub-branch communicating with a lung portion of the lung to be reduced in size;
- feeding a one-way valve down the conduit; and
- deploying the one-way valve in the bronchial sub-branch so that air is permitted to exit the lung portion while being precluded from entering the lung portion and causing the lung portion to collapse for reducing the size of the lung.
6. The method of claim 5 including the further step of removing the conduit after deploying the one-way valve in the bronchial sub-branch.
7. The method of claim 5 including the further step of pulling a vacuum in the lung portion through the conduit.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the conduit includes an outer surface, and wherein the step of pulling a vacuum includes sealing between the outer surface of the conduit and the bronchial sub-branch.
9. A method of reducing lung size of a lung, the method including the steps of:
- inserting a conduit down a trachea, into a mainstem bronchus, into a bronchial branch, and into a bronchial sub-branch communicating with a lung portion of the lung to be reduced in size;
- pulling a vacuum in the lung portion through the conduit to collapse the lung portion; and
- deploying an obstructing member in the bronchial sub-branch to preclude air from being inhaled into the lung portion through the bronchial sub-branch.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the deploying step includes feeding the obstructing member down the conduit and into the bronchial sub-branch.