Devices and systems for lung treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9592008-B2
Application number	US-201113174565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2011
Priority date	Jul 1, 2010
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of redirecting airflow through a lung airway, the method comprising:
assessing multiple portions of a lung to determine whether one or more of the portions have collateral ventilation channels between them;
choosing the lung airway from among multiple airways based on the;
advancing an elongate airway measuring device through a channel in a bronchoscope, wherein said measuring device comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, an elongate body extending along the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, and a first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements disposed near the distal end of the measuring device and extending approximately orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis of the measuring device, wherein the first fixed length flexible sizing element has a first fixed height and the second fixed length flexible sizing element has a second fixed height, and wherein the first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements have different heights from one another;
collapsing the first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements along a side of said measuring device during the advancement through the channel of the bronchoscope;
expanding the first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements once they are exposed within the chosen lung airway;
confirming the size of an airway closing device is correct for the lung airway, wherein confirming comprises observing, using the bronchoscope, the first fixed length flexible sizing element in relation to a wall forming the lung airway and the second fixed length flexible sizing element in relation to the wall forming the lung airway;
selecting a characteristic of treatment based on the observation of the first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements; and
introducing into the lung airway the airway closing device having a proximal end, a distal end, and an airway closing mechanism at or near the distal end of the airway closing device, wherein the height of the first fixed length flexible sizing element is configured to correspond to a minimum diameter of the airway closing device and the second fixed length flexible sizing element is configured to correspond to a maximum diameter of the airway closing device;
wherein the first fixed length flexible sizing element comprises two fixed length flexible tabs disposed approximately opposite one another across the longitudinal axis of the measuring device and extending approximately orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the second fixed length flexible sizing element comprises two fixed length flexible tabs disposed approximately opposite one another across the longitudinal axis of the measuring device and extending approximately orthogonally relative to the longitudinal axis; wherein each orthogonally extending fixed length flexible tab has a single attachment to the elongate body.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating a lung compartment collapsing mechanism to collapse a lung compartment connected to the lung airway.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the collapsing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a stapler, a clip applier, a chemical sealant, a one-way flow element, a suturing string, a suction tube, an ablation device and a cryogenic treatment device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an actuator at or near the proximal end of the airway closing device to activate the airway closing mechanism to produce a constriction in the lung airway and at least partially close the lung airway, wherein the airway closing mechanism is a stapler.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an actuator at or near the proximal end of the airway closing device to activate the airway closing mechanism to produce a constriction in the lung airway and at least partially close the lung airway, wherein the airway closing mechanism is a suture applier.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected characteristic of treatment is based on observing that the first fixed length flexible sizing element is not touching the wall and the second flexible element is touching the wall.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected characteristic of treatment is based on observing that both the first and second fixed length flexible sizing elements are touching the wall.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected characteristic of treatment is based on observing that neither the first nor the second fixed length flexible sizing element is touching the wall.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring device further comprises a fixed length distal depth measuring element between the distal end and the fixed length sizing elements configured to correspond to a length of the airway closing device; and wherein the method further comprises observing that both the distal end and the fixed length sizing elements of the measuring device are located within the lung airway; and confirming, based on the observation of the distal end and fixed length sizing elements, that the lung airway is long enough for the selected characteristic of treatment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixed length sizing elements are configured to be located at a first fixed distance from the distal end and a second fixed distance from the proximal end.

Assignees

• Olivera Ryan
• Radhakrishnan Srikanth
• Pulmonx Corp

Inventors

• Olivera Ryan
• Radhakrishnan Srikanth

Classifications

• A61B5/1076 Primary

  for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/6852 Primary

  Catheters · CPC title

• A61B2017/0034

  adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B17/12104

  in an air passage · CPC title

• A61F2002/043

  Bronchi · CPC title