Removable lung reduction devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by recollapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for reducing the size of a lung comprising an obstructing structure dimensioned for insertion into an air passageway communicating with a portion of the lung to be reduced in size, the obstructing structure having an outer dimension which is so dimensioned when deployed in the air passageway to preclude air from flowing into the lung portion to collapse the portion of the lung for reducing the size of the lung, the obstructing structure being collapsible to permit removal of the obstruction device from the air passageway.  
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the obstructing structure forms a one-way valve.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further including at least one anchor that anchors the device within the air passageway when the device is deployed and wherein the at least one anchor is releasable during collapse of the obstructing structure and removal of the device from the air passageway.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the obstructing structure includes a collapsible frame and a flexible membrane overlying the collapsible frame.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the flexible membrane has an opened proximal end and a closed distal end.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the flexible membrane inflates to inhaled air to preclude air from flowing into the lung portion and at least partially deflates to exhaled air to permit air to flow from the lung portion.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the collapsible frame includes at least one anchor that anchors the device within the air passageway when deployed and wherein the at least one anchor is releasable during collapse of the collapsible frame and removal of the device from the air passageway.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly comprising: 
 a device for reducing the size of a lung, the device being dimensioned for insertion into an air passageway communicating with a portion of the lung to be reduced in size, the device having an outer dimension which is so dimensioned when deployed in the air passageway to preclude air from flowing into the lung portion to collapse the portion of the lung for reducing the size of the lung;    a catheter having an internal lumen and being configured to be passed down a trachea, into the air passageway; and    a retractor dimensioned to be passed down the internal lumen of the catheter, seizing the device, and pulling the obstruction device proximally into the internal lumen to remove the device from the air passageway,    the device being collapsible after having been deployed to permit the device to be pulled proximally into the internal lumen of the catheter by the retractor.    
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the device is collapsible by the catheter as the device is pulled into the internal lumen of the catheter by the retractor.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the retractor includes collapsing means for collapsing the device before pulling the device into the internal lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the device is a one-way valve.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the device further includes at least one anchor that anchors the device within the air passageway when the device is deployed and wherein the at least one anchor is releasable as the device is pulled proximally into the internal lumen of the catheter and collapsed for removal from the air passageway.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the device includes a collapsible frame and a flexible membrane overlying the collapsible frame.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the flexible membrane has an opened proximal end and a closed distal end.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the flexible membrane inflates to inhaled air to preclude air from flowing into the lung portion and at least partially deflates to exhaled air to permit air to flow from the lung portion.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the collapsible frame includes at least one anchor that anchors the device within the air passageway when deployed and wherein the at least one anchor is releasable during collapse of the collapsible frame and removal of the device from the air passageway.  
     
     
         17 . A method of removing a deployed air passageway obstruction device from an air passageway in which the device is deployed, the method including the steps of: 
 passing a catheter, having an internal lumen, down a trachea and into the air passageway;    advancing a retractor down the internal lumen of the catheter to the device;    seizing the device with the retractor;    collapsing the device to free the device from deployment in the air passageway; and    pulling the device with the retractor proximally into the internal lumen of the catheter.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the collapsing step is performed as the device is pulled into the internal lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the device is collapsed by the catheter.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the device is collapsed by the internal lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the device is collapsed prior to being pulled into the internal lumen of the catheter.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the device is collapsed by the retractor.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the device includes at least one anchor for fixing the device in the air passageway when deployed and wherein the collapsing step includes the step of releasing the at least one anchor from the air passageway.  
     
     
         24 . An air passageway obstruction device comprising: 
 a frame structure; and    a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure,    the frame structure being collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deployment in the air passageway whereby the flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway, and recollapsible upon removal from the air passageway.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the frame structure and flexible membrane form a one-way valve.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25  wherein the flexible membrane inflates to inhaled air to obstruct the air passageway and at least partially deflates to exhaled air to at least partially unobstruct the air passageway.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the frame structure includes at least one anchor that engages and fixes the device in the air passageway upon deployment.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the at least one anchor is releasable from engagement with the air passageway upon recollapse of the frame structure.  
     
     
         29 . An air passageway obstruction device comprising: 
 frame means for forming a support structure; and    flexible membrane means overlying the support structure,    the frame means being expandable to an expanded state within an air passageway to position the membrane means for obstructing air flow within the air passageway and being collapsible for removal of the device from the air passageway.    
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the frame means and flexible membrane means form a one-way valve when the frame means is in the expanded state.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the frame means further includes anchor means for fixing the device in the air passageway when the frame means is in the expanded state.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31  wherein the anchor means releases the device from the air passageway when the frame means collapses for removal of the device from the air passageway.