§
Luxuse
Patent Intelligence
Sign In
Patent US7771472B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US7771472B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Bronchial flow control devices and methods of use

Assignee: Pulmonx Corp
•
Filing: 2005-11-18
•
Granted: 2010-08-10
•
Expires: 2025-11-18
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is an assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, such as into a delivery catheter. The assembly includes a funnel housing and a puller housing that mate with one another. The funnel housing defines a funnel-shaped loading cavity that receives a flow control device and that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction. The puller housing is removably attached to the funnel housing and is also removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity. The puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael J. Hendricksen
  • 👤 Michael Barrett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B17/12099; A61B17/12104; A61B17/12131; A61B17/12168; A61B17/12172; A61B17/12177; A61F2002/043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 152 words
An assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, comprising: a funnel housing defining an internal, funnel-shaped loading cavity that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction, the loading cavity sized to receive a bronchial flow control device in an expanded state; a puller housing removably attached to the funnel housing, wherein the puller housing is removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity, wherein the puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state; and a pushing member configured to push the bronchial flow control device out of the funnel housing after the bronchial flow control device has been pulled through the loading cavity to be contracted into the compressed state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 152 words
An assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, comprising: a funnel housing defining an internal, funnel-shaped loading cavity that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction, the loading cavity sized to receive a bronchial flow control device in an expanded state; a puller housing removably attached to the funnel housing, wherein the puller housing is removably attachable to a bronchial flow control device that can be positioned in the loading cavity, wherein the puller housing pulls the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state; and a pushing member configured to push the bronchial flow control device out of the funnel housing after the bronchial flow control device has been pulled through the loading cavity to be contracted into the compressed state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a suture attached to the puller housing for removably attaching the puller housing to the bronchial flow control device positioned in the loading cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
An assembly as in claim 2 , further comprising a cutting mechanism that automatically cuts the suture when the puller housing has pulled the bronchial flow control device into the compressed state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
An assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the funnel housing further defines an internal transfer cavity that communicates with the loading cavity, the transfer cavity sized to receive the bronchial flow control device from the loading cavity and retain the bronchial flow control device in the compressed state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
An assembly as in claim 4 , wherein the funnel housing further defines a container cavity that communicates with the transfer cavity, the container cavity sized to receive a container that receives the bronchial flow control device in the compressed state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 187 words
An assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, comprising: a funnel housing defining an internal, funnel-shaped loading cavity that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction, the loading cavity sized to receive a bronchial flow control device in an expanded state; a bronchial flow control device positioned in the loading cavity, the bronchial flow control device configured for placement in a bronchial passageway to regulate fluid flow through the bronchial passageway, and configured to form a seal with an interior wall of the bronchial passageway; a puller housing removably attached to the funnel housing; a pulling structure removably attaching the puller housing to the bronchial flow control device, wherein the puller housing and the pulling structure pull the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state; and a detachment mechanism that automatically detaches the pulling structure from the bronchial flow control device after the bronchial flow control device has been pulled and contracted into the compressed state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 187 words
An assembly for loading a bronchial flow control device into a container, comprising: a funnel housing defining an internal, funnel-shaped loading cavity that gradually reduces in size moving in a first direction, the loading cavity sized to receive a bronchial flow control device in an expanded state; a bronchial flow control device positioned in the loading cavity, the bronchial flow control device configured for placement in a bronchial passageway to regulate fluid flow through the bronchial passageway, and configured to form a seal with an interior wall of the bronchial passageway; a puller housing removably attached to the funnel housing; a pulling structure removably attaching the puller housing to the bronchial flow control device, wherein the puller housing and the pulling structure pull the bronchial flow control device in the first direction through the funnel housing to gradually contract the bronchial flow control device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to the expanded state; and a detachment mechanism that automatically detaches the pulling structure from the bronchial flow control device after the bronchial flow control device has been pulled and contracted into the compressed state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
An assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the pulling structure comprises at least one suture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 53 words
An assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the bronchial flow control device includes a valve with a pair of lips that open and close relative to one another, and wherein the assembly further comprises a dilator positioned between the lips of the valve to prevent the lips from sticking to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 49 words
An assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the funnel housing further defines an internal transfer cavity that communicates with the loading cavity, the transfer cavity sized to receive the bronchial flow control device from the loading cavity and retain the bronchial flow control device in the compressed state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
An assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the puller housing and the funnel housing slidably attach to one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 206 words
A bronchial flow control device assembly, comprising: a funnel housing having an internal loading cavity and an internal transfer cavity, the loading cavity being funnel-shaped and having an outer dimension that gradually reduces from a large size to a small size, the transfer cavity communicating with a first end of the loading cavity and having an outer dimension that is substantially equal to the small size of the loading cavity; a bronchial flow control device positioned in the loading cavity while in an expanded state, the bronchial flow control device configured for placement in a bronchial passageway to regulate fluid flow through the bronchial passageway; and a puller housing removably connected to the funnel housing in a sliding fashion, the puller housing having a puller structure that connects the puller housing to at least a portion of the bronchial flow control device, wherein the puller housing slidably disconnects from the funnel housing such that the puller structure pulls the bronchial flow control device through the loading cavity and into the transfer cavity such that the bronchial flow control device is contracted into a compressed state when positioned in the transfer cavity wherein the puller housing and the funnel housing slidably are slidably attached to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 206 words
A bronchial flow control device assembly, comprising: a funnel housing having an internal loading cavity and an internal transfer cavity, the loading cavity being funnel-shaped and having an outer dimension that gradually reduces from a large size to a small size, the transfer cavity communicating with a first end of the loading cavity and having an outer dimension that is substantially equal to the small size of the loading cavity; a bronchial flow control device positioned in the loading cavity while in an expanded state, the bronchial flow control device configured for placement in a bronchial passageway to regulate fluid flow through the bronchial passageway; and a puller housing removably connected to the funnel housing in a sliding fashion, the puller housing having a puller structure that connects the puller housing to at least a portion of the bronchial flow control device, wherein the puller housing slidably disconnects from the funnel housing such that the puller structure pulls the bronchial flow control device through the loading cavity and into the transfer cavity such that the bronchial flow control device is contracted into a compressed state when positioned in the transfer cavity wherein the puller housing and the funnel housing slidably are slidably attached to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
An assembly as in claim 11 , wherein the pulling structure comprises at least one suture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 37 words
An assembly as in claim 11 , further comprising a detachment mechanism that automatically detaches the pulling structure from the bronchial flow control device after the bronchial flow control device has been pulled into the compressed state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 53 words
An assembly as in claim 11 , wherein the bronchial flow control device includes a valve with a pair of lips that open and close relative to one another, and wherein the assembly further comprises a dilator positioned between the lips of the valve to prevent the lips from sticking to one another.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2981254A Cited
US3667069A Cited
US3657744A Cited
US3788327A Cited
US3874388A Cited
US4014318A Cited
US4086665A Cited
US4250873A Cited
US4212463A Cited
SU852321A1 Cited
US4850999A Cited
US4808183A Cited
US4302854A Cited
US4477930A Cited
EP0128433B1 Cited
US4819664A Cited
US4732152A Cited
US4759758A Cited
US4710192A Cited
SU1371700A1 Cited
US4832680A Cited
US4795449A Cited
US4852568A Cited
SU1593651A1 Cited
US4934999A Cited
US4879998A Cited
US4774942A Cited
US4830003A Cited
US5413599A Cited
US4990151A Cited
US4846836A Cited
US4877025A Cited
US5116564A Cited
US4968294A Cited
US5800339A Cited
US5500014A Cited
US5352240A Cited
US5562608A Cited
US5061274A Cited
US5158548A Cited
US6168614B1 Cited
US5840081A Cited
US5411552A 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
US5522881A Cited
US5755770A Cited
US5676671A Cited
US6022312A Cited
US6312407B1 Cited
US6190381B1 Cited
US5645565A Cited
US5588424A Cited
US5697968A Cited
US5660175A Cited
US5824037A Cited
US6068638A Cited
US5803080A Cited
US5843158A Cited
US6327772B1 Cited
US6325777B1 Cited
US6325778B1 Cited
US6355014B1 Cited
US6027525A Cited
US5891195A Cited
US5855587A Cited
US5855601A Cited
US6123663A Cited
US6302893B1 Cited
US5989288A Cited
US6183520B1 Cited
US6027508A Cited
US6135991A Cited
US5851232A Cited
US6200333B1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2013-08-09 2014-02-08 2014-08-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2017-08-09 2018-02-08 2018-08-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2021-08-09 2022-02-08 2022-08-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag