US6287290B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods, systems, and kits for lung volume reduction
Assignee: Pulmonx Corp
•
Filing: 1999-07-02
•
Granted: 2001-09-11
•
Expires: 2019-07-02
Abstract
Abstract Lung volume reduction is performed in a minimally invasive manner by isolating a lung tissue segment, optionally reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment, and aspirating the segment to cause the segment to at least partially collapse. Further optionally, external pressure may be applied on the segment to assist in complete collapse. Reduction of gas flow obstructions may be achieved in a variety of ways, including over inflation of the lung, introduction of mucolytic or dilation agents, application of vibrational energy, induction of absorption atelectasis, or the like. Optionally, diagnostic procedures on the isolated lung segment may be performed, typically using the same isolation/access catheter.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney A. Perkins
- 👤 Peter P. Soltesz
- 👤 Robert Kotmel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12181; A61B17/1219; A61B17/12027; A61B17/1204; A61B17/12045; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12104; A61B17/12136; A61B17/12159; A61B17/12186; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0404; A61M16/0418; A61M16/0434; A61M16/0454; A61M16/0459; A61M16/0486; A61B1/00; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/267; A61B1/2676; A61B17/00491; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/1205; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61M16/0003; A61M2016/0027; A61M16/0411; A61M2016/0413; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1052; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/05; A61M2205/058; A61M2209/00; A61M2209/06; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/10; A61M2210/1025; A61M2210/1039
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for lung volume reduction, said method comprising: isolating a lung tissue segment; reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment; aspirating the segment to cause the segment to at least partially collapse; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinflation of the lung segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for lung volume reduction, said method comprising: isolating a lung tissue segment; reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment; aspirating the segment to cause the segment to at least partially collapse; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinflation of the lung segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein reducing gas flow obstructions comprises inflating the lung tissue segment to a pressure higher than its normal inflated pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 2 , further comprising deflating adjacent lung regions while the lung tissue segment is inflated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein inflating the lung tissue segment comprises positioning a catheter in an air passage leading into the segment, inflating a balloon on the catheter to seal the air passage, and introducing a gas through the catheter to inflate the segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein reducing gas flow obstructions comprises introducing an agent to the lung tissue segment, wherein the agent clears or dilates air passages within the segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 5 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of mucolytic agents, bronchodilators, surfactants, desiccants, solvents, necrosing agents, and absorbents.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 5 , wherein introducing the agent comprises positioning a catheter in an air passage leading to the segment and delivering the agent through the catheter to the segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein reducing gas flow obstructions comprises delivering mechanical energy to the lung segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the mechanical energy is vibrational energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 9 , wherein the vibrational energy is delivered by inflating the segment with a non-compressible fluid and ultrasonically exciting the fluid to distribute ultrasonic energy throughout the segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein isolating the lung tissue segment comprises positioning a catheter in an air passage leading to the lung tissue segment and inflating a balloon on the catheter to occlude the air passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 11 , wherein aspirating comprises drawing gas and liquids present from the isolated lung segment through a lumen in the catheter while the balloon remains inflated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 11 , wherein sealing comprises sealing the air passage which opens to the lung tissue segment to inhibit reinflation of the segment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein sealing comprises deploying a plug in an air passage leading to the isolated lung tissue segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein the plug is swellable and absorbs water to swell within the air passage when deployed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 15 , wherein the plug comprises a collagen hydrogel which is not fully hydrated prior to deployment.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for lung volume reduction, said method comprising: isolating a lung tissue segment; aspirating the isolated segment to cause the segment to collapse, wherein the segment is collapsed to a volume which is no greater than 40% of the inflated size prior to aspiration; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfliction of the lung segment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for lung volume reduction, said method comprising: isolating a lung tissue segment; aspirating the isolated segment to cause the segment to collapse, wherein the segment is collapsed to a volume which is no greater than 40% of the inflated size prior to aspiration; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfliction of the lung segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 17 , further comprising insufflating the isolated lung tissue segment with substantially pure oxygen to promote absorption atelectasis prior to aspirating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 17 , wherein isolating the lung tissue segment comprises positioning a catheter in an air passage leading to the lung tissue segment and inflating a balloon on the catheter to occlude the air passage.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 19 , wherein aspirating comprises drawing gas from the isolated lung segment through a lumen in the catheter while the balloon remains inflated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 19 , wherein sealing the lung segment comprises sealing the air passage which opens to the lung tissue segment to inhibit reinflation of the segment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 17 , wherein sealing comprises deploying a plug in an air passage leading to the isolated lung tissue segment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22 , wherein the plug is swellable and absorbs water to swell within the air passage when deployed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 23 , wherein the plug comprises a collagen hydrogel which is not fully hydrated prior to deployment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
A kit comprising: an isolation/access catheter capable of being introduced transtracheally into the air passages of the lungs; and instructions to introduce the isolation/access catheter to a target region of the lungs and to aspirate an isolated tissue segment as follows: isolating a lung tissue segment; reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment; aspirating the segment to at least partially collapse; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfection of the lung segment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
A kit comprising: an isolation/access catheter capable of being introduced transtracheally into the air passages of the lungs; and instructions to introduce the isolation/access catheter to a target region of the lungs and to aspirate an isolated tissue segment as follows: isolating a lung tissue segment; reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment; aspirating the segment to at least partially collapse; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfection of the lung segment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A kit as in claim 25 , further comprising a sealing catheter, wherein said instructions further set forth that an air passage leading to the isolated tissue segment is to be sealed using the sealing catheter after the region has been aspirated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A kit as in claim 25 , further comprising means for applying external pressure to the lung at the same time the lung is being aspirated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A kit as in claim 25 , further comprising an agent which clears or widens air passages in the lungs when introduced into the lungs prior to aspiration.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A kit as in claim 28 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of mucolytic agents, bronchodilators, surfactants, desiccants, solvents, necrosing agents, and absorbents.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
89 words
A kit comprising: an isolation/access catheter capable of being introduced transtracheally into the air passages of the lungs; and instructions to introduce the isolation/access catheter to a target region of the lungs and to aspirate an isolated tissue segment as follows: isolating a lung tissue segment; aspirating the isolated segment to cause the segment to collapse to a volume which is no greater than 40% of the inflated size prior to aspirating; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfection of the lung segment.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
89 words
A kit comprising: an isolation/access catheter capable of being introduced transtracheally into the air passages of the lungs; and instructions to introduce the isolation/access catheter to a target region of the lungs and to aspirate an isolated tissue segment as follows: isolating a lung tissue segment; aspirating the isolated segment to cause the segment to collapse to a volume which is no greater than 40% of the inflated size prior to aspirating; and sealing the segment from the remainder of the lung to inhibit reinfection of the lung segment.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
A kit as in claim 30 , further comprising a sealing catheter, wherein said instructions further set forth that an air passage leading to the isolated tissue segment is to be sealed using the sealing catheter after the region has been aspirated.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A kit as in claim 30 , further comprising means for applying external pressure to the lung at the same time the lung is being aspirated.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
A kit as in claim 30 , further comprising an agent which clears or widens air passages in the lungs when introduced into the lungs prior to aspiration.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
A kit as in claim 33 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of mucolytic agents, bronchodilators, surfactants, desiccants, and solvents.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-10 | 2005-03-12 | 2005-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-12 | 2009-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-10 | 2013-03-12 | 2013-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |