Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
20110295141 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENDOBRONCHIAL DIAGNOSTICS - A method for assessing lung function in a patient is disclosed. The method comprises isolating a lung compartment. Thereafter, in one embodiment, an inhaled gas of known composition is introduced into the lung and compared to the composition of the exhaled gas. Alternatively, accumulated CO | 12-01-2011 |
20110313307 | MEASURING LUNG FUNCTION AND LUNG DISEASE PROGRESSION AT A LOBAR/SEGMENTAL LEVEL - A method for determining lung function in a patient is disclosed, in which a multi-lumen catheter with an expandable occluding element at its end is used to isolate a targeted lung compartment, and respiratory characteristics at the targeted lung compartment are measured over multiple respiratory cycles. The relation between various characteristics of the respiratory cycle is used to determine compliance of lung tissue within the targeted lung compartment. | 12-22-2011 |
20120149978 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR LUNG TREATMENT - Devices, systems, and methods for measuring the diameter of an airway in a human or animal subject are disclosed. The device comprises a flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end. Flexible sizing elements are disposed along and extend approximately orthogonally from the catheter body. The sizing elements have different heights from one another and are configured to fit through the working channel of a bronchoscope. Devices, systems, and methods for redirecting airflow through a lung airway are also disclosed. The method comprises introducing into the airway a catheter comprising a distal end, a proximal end and an elongated portion therebetween, wherein the distal end comprises an airway closing mechanism, and wherein the proximal end comprises an actuator to actuate the airway closing mechanism; and actuating the airway closing mechanism to at least partially close the airway. | 06-14-2012 |
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 |
20150231353 | 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. | 08-20-2015 |