Pulmonx Corporation

Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc.

Tony Wondka

Peter P Soltesz

Robert Kotmel

Wally S Buch

Michael P Reilly

Thomas R Young

John Zowtiak

The present invention provides improved methods, systems, devices and kits for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions where isolation of a lung segment or reduction of lung volume is desired. The methods are minimally invasive with instruments being introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) and rely on isolating the target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung. Isolation is achieved by deploying an obstructive device in a lung passageway leading to the target lung tissue segment. Once the obstructive device is anchored in place, the segment can be aspirated through the device. This may be achieved by a number of methods, including coupling an aspiration catheter to an inlet port on the obstruction device and aspirating through the port. Or, providing the port with a valve which allows outflow of gas from the isolated lung tissue segment during expiration of the respiratory cycle but prevents inflow of air during inspiration. In addition, a number of other methods may be used. The obstructive device may remain as an implant, to maintain isolation and optionally allow subsequent aspiration, or the device may be removed at any time.

Methods and devices for obstructing and aspirating lung tissue segments

Methods, systems, devices and kits for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions using and comprising minimally invasive instruments introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) to isolate a target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung and reduce lung volume. Isolation is achieved by deploying an obstructive device in a lung passageway leading to the target lung tissue segment. Once the obstructive device is anchored in place, the segment can be aspirated through the device. This may be achieved by a number of methods, including coupling an aspiration catheter to an inlet port on the obstruction device and aspirating through the port. Or, providing the port with a valve which allows outflow of gas from the isolated lung tissue segment during expiration of the respiratory cycle but prevents inflow of air during inspiration. In addition, a number of other methods may be used. The obstructive device may remain as an implant, to maintain isolation and optionally allow subsequent aspiration, or the device maybe removed at any time.

In accordance with the present invention, a phonation valve which is cooperatively connectable to a breathing tube connected to a patient's airway, includes a valve body having first and second ends through which gas passes into and out of the valve. The first end is connectable to the breathing tube for passage of gas between the breathing tube and the valve. A valve seat is located within the valve body between the first and second ends. A thin, flexible diaphragm is provided, which is seated against the valve seat when the patient exhales. The diaphragm has a comfort-improving structural feature which can be 1) a shape which is at least partly concave on a side of the diaphragm facing the seat, and/or 2) a web of substantially uniform thickness with a plurality of discrete areas of different thicknesses dispersed around the web, which are capable of damping resonance vibration of the diaphragm during breathing by the patient.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Tony Wondka