US6328689B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lung constriction apparatus and method
Assignee: Gyrus ACMI Inc
•
Filing: 2000-03-23
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2020-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A lung constriction device and method provide lung air leak suppression or lung volume reduction. The lung constriction device includes a jacket of flexible material. The jacket is configured to cover at least a portion of a lung. The jacket is further configured to receive the lung portion as it is drawn therein. The jacket may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the lung tissue is drawn into the jacket. Thereafter, the jacket is permitted to collapse about the lung portion to constrict the lung portion. The jacket may alternatively be nonexpandable. As the lung tissue is drawn into the jacket, it will collapse. Once disposed in the jacket, the jacket constricts the lung tissue to provide leakage suppression or lung volume reduction. The jacket may further be severable so that after the lung portion is drawn into the jacket, the jacket may be severed to section the lung portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugo X. Gonzalez
- 👤 Diane M. Muff
- 👤 William A. Sirokman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/00234; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A lung constriction device comprising a jacket of flexible material configured to cover only a portion of a lung, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict and collapse the lung portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A lung constriction device comprising a jacket of flexible material configured to cover only a portion of a lung, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict and collapse the lung portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the jacket is formed of elastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the jacket is formed of a mesh material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the jacket is formed of one of silicone rubber, polyester, polyurethane, nylon, polytetraflouroethylene, expanded polytetraflouroethylene, polyester and polyurethane, and nylon and polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the jacket is formed of an expandable mesh material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the jacket is formed of a severable material to permit the device to be severed intermediate its ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A lung constriction device comprising a member formed of expandable material, the member being configured for receiving only a portion of a lung when forced into an expanded enlarged condition by an expansion force, and contractible about the lung portion upon release of the expansion force for constricting and collapsing the lung portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A lung constriction device comprising a member formed of expandable material, the member being configured for receiving only a portion of a lung when forced into an expanded enlarged condition by an expansion force, and contractible about the lung portion upon release of the expansion force for constricting and collapsing the lung portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the member has a hollow, substantially cylindrical configuration when in a nonexpanded condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the member includes a first opened end for receiving the lung portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the member includes a second opened end for permitting the lung portion to extend through the member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the member is formed of one of silicone rubber, polyurethane, expanded polytetraflouroethylene, nylon and polyurethane, and polyester and polyurethane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the member is formed of an expandable mesh material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the member is formed of a severable material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of constricting and collapsing only a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover only a portion of the lung; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket to constrict and collapse the lung portion.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of constricting and collapsing only a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover only a portion of the lung; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket to constrict and collapse the lung portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the jacket is dimensioned to constrict the lung portion and wherein the drawing step includes collapsing the lung portion while drawing the lung portion into the jacket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the drawing step includes physically pulling the lung portion into the jacket.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material and wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the drawing step includes physically pulling the lung portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 including the further step of severing the jacket after drawing the lung portion into the jacket to section the lung portion.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; drawing the lung portion into the jacket; and positioning the jacket on a mandrel, wherein the lung portion is physically pulled into the mandrel, and the method further including the step of removing the mandrel from the jacket and the lung portion to leave the lung portion constricted in the jacket.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; drawing the lung portion into the jacket; and positioning the jacket on a mandrel, wherein the lung portion is physically pulled into the mandrel, and the method further including the step of removing the mandrel from the jacket and the lung portion to leave the lung portion constricted in the jacket.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is dimensioned to constrict the lung portion, wherein the drawing step includes collapsing the lung portion while drawing the lung portion into the jacket, and wherein the drawing step includes applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is dimensioned to constrict the lung portion, wherein the drawing step includes collapsing the lung portion while drawing the lung portion into the jacket, and wherein the drawing step includes applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of positioning the jacket on a mandrel, wherein the vacuum suction is applied to the lung portion through the mandrel, and the method further including the step of removing the mandrel from the jacket and the lung portion to leave the lung portion constricted in the jacket.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of positioning the jacket within a mandrel, wherein the vacuum suction is applied to the lung portion through the mandrel and the jacket to pull the lung portion directly into the jacket, and the method further including the step of removing the mandrel from the jacket.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the applying step includes positioning the jacket on a mandrel.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the applying step includes positioning the jacket on a mandrel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the applying step further includes expanding the mandrel after positioning the jacket on the mandrel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the drawing step includes applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion through the mandrel to draw the lung portion into the mandrel and wherein the releasing step includes removing the jacket from the mandrel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the releasing step further includes terminating the vacuum suction prior to removing the jacket from the mandrel.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the drawing step includes applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the drawing step includes applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the method further includes the steps of positioning the jacket within a mandrel, and applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion through the mandrel and the jacket to cause the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket to be expanded by the lung portion drawn by the vacuum suction.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of constricting at least a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket, wherein the jacket is formed of expandable material, wherein the method includes the further steps of applying an expansion force to the jacket to enlarge the jacket dimensions and releasing the expansion force on the jacket after the drawing step to permit the jacket to collapse about the lung portion for constricting the lung portion, and wherein the method further includes the steps of positioning the jacket within a mandrel, and applying a vacuum suction to the lung portion through the mandrel and the jacket to cause the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket to be expanded by the lung portion drawn by the vacuum suction.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the releasing step includes terminating the vacuum suction.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of reducing the size of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal lung tissue; drawing a portion of the lung into the jacket to constrict and seal lung tissue of the lung portion; and severing the jacket to section the lung.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of reducing the size of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal lung tissue; drawing a portion of the lung into the jacket to constrict and seal lung tissue of the lung portion; and severing the jacket to section the lung.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the jacket includes a pair of opened ends and wherein the drawing step includes drawing the lung portion through the jacket.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of sectioning body tissue, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue; drawing the body tissue into the jacket to constrict and seal the body tissue; and severing the jacket to section the body tissue.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of sectioning body tissue, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue; drawing the body tissue into the jacket to constrict and seal the body tissue; and severing the jacket to section the body tissue.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the jacket includes a pair of opened ends and wherein the drawing step includes drawing the body tissue through the jacket.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
51 words
A system for sectioning body tissue, the system comprising: a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue; means for drawing the body tissue into the jacket to constrict and seal the body tissue; and means for severing the jacket to section the body tissue.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
51 words
A system for sectioning body tissue, the system comprising: a jacket of severable material configured and dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue; means for drawing the body tissue into the jacket to constrict and seal the body tissue; and means for severing the jacket to section the body tissue.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 35 wherein the jacket is formed of an elastic material.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
51 words
A device for use in sectioning body tissue comprising a jacket of severable material configured to cover the body tissue, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the body tissue to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
51 words
A device for use in sectioning body tissue comprising a jacket of severable material configured to cover the body tissue, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the body tissue to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict and seal the body tissue.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 37 wherein the jacket is formed of elastic material for collapsing about the body tissue.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
51 words
A lung constriction device comprising a jacket of flexible material configured to cover only a portion of a lung, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict, collapse, and disable the lung portion.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
51 words
A lung constriction device comprising a jacket of flexible material configured to cover only a portion of a lung, the jacket having a pair of opened ends to permit the lung portion to be drawn into the jacket and the jacket being dimensioned to constrict, collapse, and disable the lung portion.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
54 words
A lung constriction device comprising a member formed of expandable material, the member being configured for receiving only a portion of a lung when forced into an expanded enlarged condition by an expansion force, and contractible about the lung portion upon release of the expansion force for constricting, collapsing, and disabling the lung portion.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
54 words
A lung constriction device comprising a member formed of expandable material, the member being configured for receiving only a portion of a lung when forced into an expanded enlarged condition by an expansion force, and contractible about the lung portion upon release of the expansion force for constricting, collapsing, and disabling the lung portion.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of constricting, collapsing, and disabling a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket to constrict, collapse, and disable the lung portion.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of constricting, collapsing, and disabling a portion of a lung, the method including the steps of: providing a jacket formed of flexible material and configured to cover the lung portion; and drawing the lung portion into the jacket to constrict, collapse, and disable the lung portion.
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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) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |