Cross-Sectional Modification During Deployment of an Elongate Lung Volume Reduction Device

摘要

Elongate implant structures can be introduced into an airway system to a target airway axial region, often to apply lateral bending and/or compression forces against the lung tissue from within the airways for an extended period of time. Structures or features of the implants may inhibit tissue reactions that might otherwise allow portions of the device to eventually traverse through the wall of the airway. The devices may enhance the area bearing laterally on the tissue of a surrounding airway lumen wall. Embodiments may have features which increase the device friction with the airway to allow the device to grip the surrounding airway as the device is deployed. An appropriate adhesive may be introduced around the device in the lung. Hydrophilic material may inhibit biofilm formation, or features which induce some tissue ingrowth (stimulation of tissue growth) may enhance implanted device supported.

主权项

1. An implant for treating a lung of a patient, the lung including an airway system having a plurality of branching airways, the implant comprising:
an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end defining an axis therebetween; the elongate body having a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the elongate body in the delivery configuration having a lateral profile and a lateral bearing surface transverse to the axis, the axis of the elongate body in the delivery configuration being sufficiently straight for advancement distally into the airway system; the elongate body being deployable from the delivery configuration to the deployed configuration within the airway system such that the implant expands laterally from the axis of the implant to increase the lateral bearing surface, deployment of the elongate body within the airway effecting bending of the elongate body so that the bearing surface bears laterally against a luminal surface of the airways from within the airway system sufficiently to bend the airway while the expanded bearing surface of the implant inhibits penetration of the implant through the airway, and sufficient that local compression of lung tissue enhances tension in other lung tissue of the patient sufficiently to enhance lung function of the patient.