US20030024527A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lung assist apparatus and methods for use
Assignee: Gateway Medical Inc
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Filing: 2001-08-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A lung-assist apparatus includes a tubular housing, a tubular nozzle therein, and a first valve disposed between the housing and nozzle. The housing is implanted across a bifurcation such that the nozzle extends from a first branch communicating with a healthy region of a lung towards a main passage, and terminates proximate a lateral opening in the housing that is disposed within a second branch communicating with a damaged region of the lung. During inhalation, the first valve opens to allow air flow into the first branch, and closes during exhalation to force air through the nozzle, thereby inducing a vacuum for drawing air from the damaged region. A second valve in the second branch opens during exhalation to draw air from the diseased region, and closes during inhalation to prevent air from being drawn into the damaged region.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Ginn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/24; A61F2/2476; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0404; A61M16/0406; A61F2/06; A61F2/07; A61F2/82; A61F2/852; A61F2002/043; A61F2002/065; A61F2002/821; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/006; A61F2250/0063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
1 . An apparatus for implantation at a branch in a lung for assisting exhalation from a region of the lung to be isolated, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a healthy region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with the region to be isolated, the apparatus comprising: a support structure implantable within the branch, the support structure comprising a first end, a second end, and a lateral opening therebetween; a tubular member comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner lumen and an outer surface extending therebetween, the tubular member being carried by the support structure such that the inlet end is disposed proximate the first end, and the outlet end is disposed proximate the lateral opening, the tubular member defining an outer lumen between the outer surface and the support structure; and a first valve disposed across the outer lumen, the first valve configured for permitting flow through the outer lumen towards the inlet end, the first valve configured for limiting flow through the outer lumen towards the outlet end in order to cause air to pass through the inner lumen and out the outlet end, thereby generating a vacuum in the lateral opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
1 . An apparatus for implantation at a branch in a lung for assisting exhalation from a region of the lung to be isolated, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a healthy region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with the region to be isolated, the apparatus comprising: a support structure implantable within the branch, the support structure comprising a first end, a second end, and a lateral opening therebetween; a tubular member comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner lumen and an outer surface extending therebetween, the tubular member being carried by the support structure such that the inlet end is disposed proximate the first end, and the outlet end is disposed proximate the lateral opening, the tubular member defining an outer lumen between the outer surface and the support structure; and a first valve disposed across the outer lumen, the first valve configured for permitting flow through the outer lumen towards the inlet end, the first valve configured for limiting flow through the outer lumen towards the outlet end in order to cause air to pass through the inner lumen and out the outlet end, thereby generating a vacuum in the lateral opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is expandable between a contracted condition for facilitating insertion into the lung, and an enlarged condition for implantation within the branch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the support structure comprising a tubular mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises engagement elements for engaging tissue surrounding the branch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a housing, and wherein the tubular member and the first valve are substantially permanently attached to the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tubular member and the first valve are attachable to the support structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more struts extending between the outer surface of the tubular member and the support structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second valve for limiting flow into or out of the lateral opening of the support structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second valve is configured to open when a vacuum is generated in the lateral opening to allow air flow into the lateral opening towards the second end of the support structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second valve is configured to close when a vacuum is absent from the lateral opening, thereby preventing air flow out of the lateral opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second valve is attached to the support structure proximate the lateral opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the support structure and the outlet end of the tubular member have a predetermined relative cross-section for generating a predetermined vacuum in the lateral opening when air passes through the inner lumen and out the outlet end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
207 words
13 . A method for assisting exhalation at a branch in a lung, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a healthy region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with a region of the lung to be isolated, the method comprising: providing a device comprising a tubular member including an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner lumen and an outer surface extending therebetween, the device comprising a first valve disposed adjacent the outer surface, the first valve being configured to close for limiting flow along the outer surface from the inlet end towards the outlet end and configured to open for allowing flow along the outer surface from the outlet end towards the inlet end; implanting the device in the branch such that the inlet end is disposed in the first branch, and the outlet end is disposed proximate the second branch, the first valve engaging a wall of the first branch, the first valve opening during inhalation and closing during exhalation to force air from the first branch to pass through the lumen into the main passage, thereby inducing a vacuum at the second branch for drawing air from the region to be isolated into the main passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
207 words
13 . A method for assisting exhalation at a branch in a lung, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a healthy region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with a region of the lung to be isolated, the method comprising: providing a device comprising a tubular member including an inlet end, an outlet end, and an inner lumen and an outer surface extending therebetween, the device comprising a first valve disposed adjacent the outer surface, the first valve being configured to close for limiting flow along the outer surface from the inlet end towards the outlet end and configured to open for allowing flow along the outer surface from the outlet end towards the inlet end; implanting the device in the branch such that the inlet end is disposed in the first branch, and the outlet end is disposed proximate the second branch, the first valve engaging a wall of the first branch, the first valve opening during inhalation and closing during exhalation to force air from the first branch to pass through the lumen into the main passage, thereby inducing a vacuum at the second branch for drawing air from the region to be isolated into the main passage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising implanting a second valve in the second branch, the second valve configured to open during exhalation to allow air to be drawn from the region to be isolated into the main passage, and configured to close during inhalation to prevent air from being drawn into the region to be isolated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising implanting a support structure within the branch, and wherein the step of implanting the device comprises securing the device to the support structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the support structure comprises a tubular mesh that is expandable between a contracted condition for facilitating delivery into a lung, and an enlarged condition for engaging tissue at the branch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the device further comprises a support structure to which the tubular member is attached, and wherein the implanting step comprises securing the support structure to tissue at the branch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the support structure comprises a tubular mesh that is expandable between a contracted condition for facilitating delivery into a lung, and an enlarged condition for engaging tissue at the branch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the implanting step comprises advancing the tubular mesh in the contracted condition along a bronchial passage to the branch, and expanding the tubular mesh to engage a wall of the bronchial passage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
20 . A method for assisting exhalation at a branch in a lung, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a first region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with a second region of the lung, the method comprising: implanting a tubular device comprising a narrow region within the branch such that a first end of the tubular device is disposed in the first branch, and a second end of the tubular device is disposed proximate the second branch such that, during exhalation, air flows through the tubular device towards the main passage, thereby inducing a vacuum proximate the second branch for drawing air from the second region into the main passage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
118 words
20 . A method for assisting exhalation at a branch in a lung, the branch comprising a main passage, a first branch communicating with a first region of the lung, and a second branch communicating with a second region of the lung, the method comprising: implanting a tubular device comprising a narrow region within the branch such that a first end of the tubular device is disposed in the first branch, and a second end of the tubular device is disposed proximate the second branch such that, during exhalation, air flows through the tubular device towards the main passage, thereby inducing a vacuum proximate the second branch for drawing air from the second region into the main passage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein a ratio of cross-sections of the narrow region and the first branch is less than one, whereby flow from the first branch passing through the narrow region causes an increase in velocity of air exiting the second end of the tubular device, the increase in velocity inducing the vacuum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the tubular device comprises a first valve disposed adjacent an outer surface of the tubular device, the first valve being configured to close during exhalation for causing air to flow through the tubular device, and configured to open during inhalation for allowing substantially unobstructed flow between the main passage and the first branch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the implanting step comprises implanting a second valve across the second branch, the second valve configured to open during exhalation to allow air to be drawn from the second branch into the main passage, and configured to close during inhalation to prevent air from being drawn into the second branch from the main branch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the first region comprises a relatively healthy region of the lung, and the second region comprises a relatively diseased region of the lung.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
25 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the tubular member comprises a lumen having a substantially uniform diameter through which air flows through the tubular member, the lumen comprising the narrow region within the branch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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