US6722360B2 — Methods and devices for improving breathing in pa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 82 words

A device for partially occluding an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a frame having at least one anchoring member and configured to be implanted within a trachea or bronchial passage thereby dividing a lumen of the trachea or bronchial passage into a first portion and a second portion, the frame being further arranged to allow inspiration and expiration air flow through the first portion; and means on the frame for increasing resistance to expiration air flow through the second portion.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 82 words

A device for partially occluding an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a frame having at least one anchoring member and configured to be implanted within a trachea or bronchial passage thereby dividing a lumen of the trachea or bronchial passage into a first portion and a second portion, the frame being further arranged to allow inspiration and expiration air flow through the first portion; and means on the frame for increasing resistance to expiration air flow through the second portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the means selectively increases air flow resistance to expiration while increasing resistance to inspiration to a lesser extent.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 2 wherein the means comprises a flow responsive element which opens to inspiration and closes to expiration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the means comprises a fixed element.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 60 words

A device for enhancing breathing in a patient suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the device comprising: a mouth piece for holding in the patient's mouth; and means on the mouthpiece for causing an air flow resistance to expiration that is greater than an air flow resistance to inspiraton, the inspiration and expiration being along the same air flow pathway.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 60 words

A device for enhancing breathing in a patient suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the device comprising: a mouth piece for holding in the patient's mouth; and means on the mouthpiece for causing an air flow resistance to expiration that is greater than an air flow resistance to inspiraton, the inspiration and expiration being along the same air flow pathway.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 80 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: providing flow resistor configured to substantially resist airflow in a first direction past the resistor without entirely occluding airflow in the first direction, the resistor being further configured to substantially allow airflow in a second direction past the resistor; implanting the flow resistor in a bi-directional airway of a patient in such an orientation that the resistor resists expiratory air flow more than inspiratory air flow.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 80 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: providing flow resistor configured to substantially resist airflow in a first direction past the resistor without entirely occluding airflow in the first direction, the resistor being further configured to substantially allow airflow in a second direction past the resistor; implanting the flow resistor in a bi-directional airway of a patient in such an orientation that the resistor resists expiratory air flow more than inspiratory air flow.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 6 wherein providing a flow resistor comprises providing a valve with a movable occluding member.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 62 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: implantably creating a resistance in a tracheal or bronchial passage to a portion of expiratory air flow by implanting a flow resistor in the trachea or bronchial passage; wherein the flow resistor comprises an implantable frame and means on the frame for selectively increasing flow resistance to expiration.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 62 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: implantably creating a resistance in a tracheal or bronchial passage to a portion of expiratory air flow by implanting a flow resistor in the trachea or bronchial passage; wherein the flow resistor comprises an implantable frame and means on the frame for selectively increasing flow resistance to expiration.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 59 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: creating a resistance in a tracheal or bronchial passage to a portion of expiratory air flow by applying energy to a portion of the tracheal or bronchial passage to alter a section of tissue in the passage to partially occlude the lumen of the passage.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 59 words

A method for treating patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the method comprising: creating a resistance in a tracheal or bronchial passage to a portion of expiratory air flow by applying energy to a portion of the tracheal or bronchial passage to alter a section of tissue in the passage to partially occlude the lumen of the passage.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 92 words

A device that partially occludes an airway in a patient, the device including: an air flow element having at least one anchoring member and configured for implantation within an airway including at least one of a trachea and a bronchus, wherein the airway is divided into a first portion and a second portion by the device; the air flow element further having an air flow pathway that allows inspiration and expiration air flow through the first portion and an air flow resistance element that resists expiration air flow through the second portion.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 92 words

A device that partially occludes an airway in a patient, the device including: an air flow element having at least one anchoring member and configured for implantation within an airway including at least one of a trachea and a bronchus, wherein the airway is divided into a first portion and a second portion by the device; the air flow element further having an air flow pathway that allows inspiration and expiration air flow through the first portion and an air flow resistance element that resists expiration air flow through the second portion.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device of claim 10 wherein the air flow resistance element provides a first flow resistance to inspiration and a second flow resistance to expiration, the second flow resistance being greater than the first flow resistance.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 10 wherein the air flow resistance element comprises a valve.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The device of claim 12 further including a frame that supports the valve.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 88 words

The device of claim 10 wherein the air flow resistance element provides a first flow resistance to air flow from proximal airways to distal airways, a second flow resistance to first air flow from distal airways to proximal airways, and a third flow resistance to second air flow from distal airways to proximal airways, wherein the second flow resistance is greater than the third flow resistance and the second airflow from distal airways to proximal airways is greater than the first airflow from distal airways to proximal airways.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 14 wherein the third air flow resistance is greater than the first air flow resistance.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 78 words

A device for partially occluding an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a frame configured to be implanted within an airway of a patient, said frame dividing said airway into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the frame is configured to allow both inspiratory and expiratory air to flow past the frame in the first portion, and wherein the frame comprises an airflow-impeding member configured to increase resistance to expiratory airflow through the second portion.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 78 words

A device for partially occluding an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a frame configured to be implanted within an airway of a patient, said frame dividing said airway into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the frame is configured to allow both inspiratory and expiratory air to flow past the frame in the first portion, and wherein the frame comprises an airflow-impeding member configured to increase resistance to expiratory airflow through the second portion.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 16 , wherein the frame comprises an anchor member configured to engage an airway wall to retain the device against movement within the airway.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 17 , wherein the first portion comprises an area between the airflow-impeding member and the airway wall.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device of claim 16 , wherein the airflow-impeding member is configured to allow inspiratory airflow to flow through the second portion substantially unimpeded.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 19 , wherein the airflow-impeding member comprises a hinged flap.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 61 words

A device for increasing resistance to expiratory airflow in a patient, the device comprising: a frame configured to be implanted within a trachea or a bronchial passageway of a patient, the frame comprising an airflow-restricting member, wherein the airflow restricting member is configured to create a first resistance to expiratory airflow that is substantially greater than a resistance to inspiratory airflow.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 61 words

A device for increasing resistance to expiratory airflow in a patient, the device comprising: a frame configured to be implanted within a trachea or a bronchial passageway of a patient, the frame comprising an airflow-restricting member, wherein the airflow restricting member is configured to create a first resistance to expiratory airflow that is substantially greater than a resistance to inspiratory airflow.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 21 , wherein the resistance to inspiratory airflow is substantially negligible in relation to the resistance to expiratory airflow.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 45 words

The device of claim 21 , wherein the airflow-restricting member is further configured to create a second resistance to expiratory airflow when an expiratory air pressure exceeds a threshold value, the second resistance to expiratory airflow being less than said first resistance to expiratory airflow.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-04-20	2007-10-20	2008-04-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-04-20	2011-10-20	2012-04-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-04-20	2015-10-20	2016-04-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and devices for improving breathing in patients with pulmonary disease

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