Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080221703 | LOADING A DEVICE FOR A PULMONARY IMPLANT - Devices for loading a collapsible implant onto a delivery catheter. In one aspect, a loading device comprises an outer tubular structure and an inner tubular structure. The outer tubular structure comprises a narrowing passage configured to receive a catheter at one end and a collapsible implant at another end. The inner tubular structure is configured to move slidably and co-axially within the outer tubular structure. The inner tubular structure comprises a carrier pin configured to move within the narrowing passage as the inner tubular structure slides into the outer tubular structure. The sliding of the inner tubular structure into the outer tubular structure causes an implant mounted on the carrier pin to collapse as the implant moves through the narrowing passage and into the distal end of a catheter. In an optional aspect, the outer tubular structure further comprises a grasper to stabilize the catheter for receipt of the collapsible implant, and the internal diameter of the inner tubular structure varies to cause the grasper to first contract and stabilize the catheter, and then expand and release the catheter, as the grasper moves into the inner tubular structure. | 09-11-2008 |
20090241964 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PASSIVE RESIDUAL LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION AND FUNCTIONAL LUNG VOLUME EXPANSION - The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment. The invention further discloses a catheter with a transparent occlusion element at its tip that enables examination of the lung passageway through a viewing scope. | 10-01-2009 |
20100036361 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MULTIPLE IMPLANTS INTO LUNG PASSAGEWAYS - A system for delivering multiple implants into lung passageways is disclosed. The system comprises a catheter configured to receive and store a plurality of expandable implants, and an actuatable delivery tool coupled to the proximal end of the catheter. The system expels an implant of the plurality of implants with each actuation of the delivery tool. The delivery tool comprises a plunger element which extends through the catheter from the proximal to the distal end and allows the delivery tool to mechanically communicate with the implants. In one embodiment, the system comprises a spring-loaded slidable element, and a user compresses the slidable element to actuate the delivery tool. In another embodiment, the system comprises a rotation rod, and the user moves the rotation rod in a distal direction to actuate the delivery tool. | 02-11-2010 |
20100152616 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SAFELY ACCESSING BONE MARROW AND OTHER TISSUES - A device for safely accessing bone marrow and other tissues is disclosed. Such device comprises a needle assembly, a sensor mechanism, and an actuator configured to engage with the needle assembly via the sensor mechanism to advance a tissue penetrable needle through a first tissue region and into a second tissue region. In one aspect, the first tissue region is a bone cortex and the second tissue region is a bone marrow cavity. The sensor mechanism is configured to disengage the actuator from the needle once the needle has crossed the first tissue region (e.g., bone cortex) into the second tissue region (e.g., bone marrow cavity), thereby preventing the needle from advancing further into the second tissue region. In one aspect, the sensor mechanism is mechanical and comprises a pin assembly comprising a spring-loaded pin that extends through the needle. The pin assembly is configured such that advancement of the distal tip of the spring-loaded pin past the distal tip of the needle causes the actuator to disengage from the needle. The actuator is a rotatable actuator. A catheter-based embodiment of the device can be inserted in body passageways to access tissue internally within the body. | 06-17-2010 |
20110251509 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING SECRETION FLOW INTO A FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT CATHETER - Devices systems and methods are disclosed for preventing or inhibiting secretions from entering the lumen of a functional assessment catheter for the lungs, or removing collected secretions. The catheter comprises an expandable element, a cover, or an internal component configured to prevent or inhibit secretion flow into the lumen. The catheter alternatively or additionally comprises a distal end configured to facilitate air flow, absorb secretions or repel secretions away from the catheter tip. The catheter alternatively or additionally comprises an internal element such as a coilable wire, or an obturator configured to prevent secretions from being drawn into the lumen, or to actively remove the secretions. The catheter alternatively or additionally comprises an element to dry, aerate or aspirate the lung passageways. | 10-13-2011 |
20120065651 | GASTRO-INTESTINLAL COMPRESSION DEVICE - Devices, methods, and systems for treating Type-2 Diabetes and/or obesity by facilitating the delivery of under-digested nutrients within the gastro-intestinal tract without substantial tissue removal are disclosed. In one aspect, the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient is modified by a gastro-intestinal treatment device comprising an elongate element configured to extend within the gastro-intestinal tract, a first attachment element and a second attachment element disposed on the elongate element, wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element are configured to attach to the gastro-intestinal tract such that a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract is compressed between the first and the second attachment elements. The length of the gastro-intestinal tract modified by the device is effectively shortened, and its surface area is reduced. | 03-15-2012 |
20130023919 | IMPLANT LOADING DEVICE AND SYSTEM - Devices, methods, and systems are provided for loading an implantable device into a container. One aspect of the loading system contains a loader element with a loading tunnel that is configured to gradually contract an implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel. | 01-24-2013 |
20130317293 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING IMPLANTS TO A LUNG REGION - Devices, methods, and systems for accessing a lung region are provided. The system includes a delivery catheter having a proximal section, a distal section, and a body disposed in-between, wherein the distal region comprises at least one curved section; and a bronchoscope having a proximal section, a distal section, and a body disposed in-between, wherein the bronchoscope is configured to receive the delivery catheter; wherein the delivery catheter is configured to affect a curvature of the distal section of the bronchoscope when the distal section of the delivery catheter is advanced at least partially through the distal end of the bronchoscope. | 11-28-2013 |
20140315175 | SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING LUNG FUNCTION - A system for simulating a breathing lung is disclosed. The system comprises a lung model contained within an enclosure, wherein a main bronchus of the lung model is open to ambient air. In one embodiment, the system also comprises a vacuum pump connected to the enclosure, a first normally closed 2-way valve connected to the enclosure, a flow controller connected to both the vacuum pump and the enclosure, and a timer connected to the first normally closed 2-way valve. In alternative embodiments, the system comprises a first pump connected to the enclosure and a second pump connected to the enclosure, wherein the first and second pumps work independently of each other, and wherein the first pump is a vacuum pump, and the second pump is either a peristaltic pump or a piston pump. | 10-23-2014 |