US7662181B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Methods and devices for use in performing pulmonary procedures

Assignee: Pulmonx Corp

•

Filing: 2006-03-30

•

Granted: 2010-02-16

•

Expires: 2026-03-30

📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Systems, methods and devices for performing pulmonary procedures, and in particular treating lung disease. A flow control element includes a valve that prevents airflow in the inhalation direction but permits airflow in the exhalation direction. The flow control element is guided to and positioned at the site by a bronchoscope that is introduced into the patient's trachea and used to view the lungs during delivery of the flow control element. The valve may include one, two or more valve elements, and it may be collapsible for easier delivery. A source of vacuum or suction may be used to increase the amount of fluid withdrawn from the lung tissue. A device for measuring hollow structures, such as bronchioles, and a device for removing a previously-placed flow control element are disclosed as well.

Inventors

👤 Mark E. Deem
👤 Hanson S. Gifford, III
👤 Ronald French
👤 Douglas S. Sutton

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:23

CPC Classifications

F; F16; F16K; F16K15/00; F16K15/14; F16K15/144; F16K15/147; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12104; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12168; A61B17/12172; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/24; A61F2/2412; A61F2/2476; A61F2/82; A61F2/86; A61F2/90; A61F2/91; A61P; A61P1/00; A61P11/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/221; A61B2017/1205; A61B2017/2215; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061; A61F2/2403; A61F2/2418; A61F2002/043; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0008; A61F2220/0016; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/912

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising: attaching a flow control element to a distal region of a delivery catheter, wherein the flow control element includes a seal member, a frame within the seal member, and a duckbill valve inside the frame; delivering the distal end of the delivery catheter and the flow control element through the patient's trachea into a bronchial passageway; detaching the flow control element from the distal region of the catheter in the bronchial passageway in the lung so that the flow control element seals with an interior wall of the bronchial passageway, wherein the flow control element restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction through the bronchial passageway but does not completely block flow in the first direction when the flow control element is in a closed state; and delivering a therapeutic substance into the bronchial passageway at a location distal of the flow control element, wherein the therapeutic substance is delivered prior to deploying the flow control element.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 169 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is adapted to re-establish tissue elasticity.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an anti-angiogenesis factor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an antibiotic.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an anti-inflammatory agent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is a sclerosing agent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an agent that absorbs fluid.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic substance is sealing substance.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow control element restricts flow in only the first direction and permits flow in a second direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as in claim 1 , wherein the duckbill valve comprises at least two flaps that are inclined toward one another at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the flow control device when the duckbill valve is in a closed state.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 163 words

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising: providing a flow control element which restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction, the flow control element being releasably coupled to an elongated delivery device, wherein the flow control element includes a seal member, a frame within the seal member, and a duckbill valve inside the frame; positioning the delivery device in a bronchial passageway of the lung; detaching the flow control element from the delivery device to deploy the flow control element in the bronchial passageway such that the flow control element seals with an internal wall of the bronchial passageway, wherein the flow control element restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction through the bronchial passageway but dose not completely block flow in the direction when the flow control element is in a closed state; and delivering a therapeutic substance into the bronchial passageway, wherein the therapeutic substance is delivered prior to deploying the flow control element.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 163 words

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is deployed at a location distal of the flow control element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is a adapted to re-establish tissue elasticity.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an anti-angiogenesis factor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an antibiotic.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an anti-inflammatory agent.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is a sclerosing agent.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is an agent that absorbs fluid.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic substance is sealing substance.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein the flow control element restricts flow in only the first direction and permits flow in a second direction.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as in claim 11 , wherein the duckbill valve comprises at least two flaps that are inclined toward one another at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the flow control device when the duckbill valve is in a closed state.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 135 words

A method for treating a patient's lung, the method comprising: delivering a flow control element comprising a one-way valve into a bronchial passageway of a lung, wherein the flow control element is attached to a delivery catheter during delivery, and wherein the flow control element includes a seal member, a frame within the seal member, and a duckbill valve inside the frame; completely detaching the flow control element from the delivery catheter in the bronchial passageway but does not completely block flow in the first direction when the flow control element is in a closed state in the lung, wherein the flow control element restricts fluid flow in at least a first direction through the bronchial passageway; and delivering a therapeutic substance into the bronchial passageway at a location distal of the flow control element.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 135 words

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as in claim 22 , wherein the duckbill valve comprises at least two flaps that are inclined toward one another at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the flow control device when the duckbill valve is in a closed state.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2832078A Cited

US2981254A Cited

US3320972A Cited

US3445916A Cited

US3671979A Cited

US3709227A Cited

US3657744A Cited

US3822720A Cited

US3788327A Cited

US3794036A Cited

US3874388A Cited

US4014318A Cited

US3901272A Cited

US4084268A Cited

US4056854A Cited

US4086665A Cited

US4250873A Cited

US4218782A Cited

US4212463A Cited

US4222126A Cited

SU852321A1 Cited

US4850999A Cited

US4808183A Cited

US4302854A Cited

US4339831A Cited

US4477930A Cited

US4566465A Cited

US4819664A Cited

US4732152A Cited

US4759758A Cited

US4710192A Cited

SU1371700A1 Cited

US4832680A Cited

US4795449A Cited

US4852568A Cited

SU1593651A1 Cited

US4934999A Cited

US4774942A Cited

US4879998A Cited

US5010892A Cited

US4830003A Cited

US5413599A Cited

US4990151A Cited

US4846836A Cited

US4877025A Cited

US5116564A Cited

US4968294A Cited

US5800339A Cited

US5027823A Cited

US5500014A Cited

US5352240A Cited

US5788665A Cited

US5562608A Cited

US5137024A Cited

US5061274A Cited

US5271385A Cited

US5158548A Cited

US5411552A Cited

US5840081A Cited

US6168614B1 Cited

US5116360A Cited

US5358518A Cited

US5649906A Cited

US5161524A Cited

US5151105A Cited

US5662713A Cited

US5123919A Cited

US5445626A Cited

US6077291A Cited

US5382261A Cited

US5409019A Cited

US5947997A Cited

US5411507A Cited

US5980455A Cited

US6558318B1 Cited

US5306234A Cited

EP0621015B1 Cited

US5486154A Cited

US5366478A Cited

US6135729A Cited

US5453090A Cited

US5645519A Cited

US5392775A Cited

US5499995C1 Cited

US5499995A Cited

US5683451A Cited

US5417226A Cited

US6079413A Cited

US5755770A Cited

US6022312A Cited

US6312407B1 Cited

US6190381B1 Cited

US5645565A Cited

US5697968A Cited

US5660175A Cited

US6068638A Cited

US5653231A Cited

US5803080A Cited

US6327772B1 Cited

US6042554A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-02-15	2013-08-17	2014-02-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-02-15	2017-08-17	2018-02-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-02-15	2021-08-17	2022-02-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag

Select Category

Notes (Optional)