Devices, treatments and methods to restore tissue elastic recoil

Abstract

Pulmonary treatment devices, systems and methods of use are provided which take into account the vast tissue damage of advanced COPD sufferers and provide treatments designed specifically to treat the particularly compromised lung tissues that are present in these patients. These treatments reduce trapped air volume, tension lung tissue and enhance lung elastic recoil. In particular, a variety of embodiments of invertible pulmonary treatment devices are provided. The devices are comprised of a shape memory material wherein the devices are able to be expanded under tension, and then are able to recoil back toward an original relaxed or resting shape. In these embodiments, a portion of the device is invertible. Thus, each device is able to store energy at least in the inversion, wherein the energy is utilized to continually tension the lung as the device relaxes toward its original shape.