Removable anchored lung volume reduction devices and methods

Abstract

An intra-bronchial device placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure that reduces ventilation to the lung portion by preventing air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may engage the air passageway wall by piercing or friction, include a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall, and may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device. The anchors may be carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure, or by a central portion of the support structure. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intra-bronchial device for placement in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway, the device comprising: 
 a support structure;    an obstructing member carried by the support structure that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion to collapse the lung portion; and    at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway when the anchor is deployed.    
     
     
         2 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor has an anchoring end that engages the air passageway wall.  
     
     
         3 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructing member and at least one anchor are simultaneously deployable.  
     
     
         4 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device.  
     
     
         5 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor pierces into the air passageway wall.  
     
     
         6 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support structure is collapsible.  
     
     
         7 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor includes a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall.  
     
     
         8 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration to engage the air passageway.  
     
     
         9 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration to engage the air passageway, and to move from the second configuration to the first configuration to disengage the air passageway.  
     
     
         10 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration to engage the air passageway, and to move from the second configuration to a third configuration to disengage the air passageway.  
     
     
         11 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is configured to urge at least one anchor to engage the air passageway wall.  
     
     
         12 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a resilient material for imparting a force against the air passageway to deform the air passageway to more positively anchor the obstructing member.  
     
     
         13 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes at least one pad that frictionally engages the air passageway.  
     
     
         14 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructing member is a one-way valve.  
     
     
         15 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure.  
     
     
         16 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is carried by a central portion of the support structure.  
     
     
         17 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructing member is releasable from the support structure and removable from the air passageway.  
     
     
         18 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is carried distal to the obstructing member.  
     
     
         19 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is carried proximal to the obstructing member.  
     
     
         20 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor is carried distal to the obstructing member and at least one anchor is carried proximal to the obstructing member.  
     
     
         21 . A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a portion of the lung, the method including the steps of: 
 providing an intra-bronchial device comprising a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure which is so dimensioned when deployed in an air passageway communicating with the portion of the lung to be collapsed to preclude air from being inhaled, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstructing member when the anchor is deployed;    placing the obstructing member in the air passageway; and    deploying at least one anchor.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one anchor is releasable for removal of the intra-bronchial device.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the obstructing member forms a one-way valve.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the support structure is collapsible.  
     
     
         25 . A method of reducing the size of a lung by collapsing a portion of the lung with a removable device, the method including the steps of: 
 providing an intra-bronchial device comprising a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure which is so dimensioned when deployed in an air passageway communicating with the portion of the lung to be collapsed to preclude air from being inhaled, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstructing member when the anchor is deployed;    placing the obstructing member in the air passageway;    deploying at least one anchor; and    removing at least the obstructing member.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least one anchor is releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device, and the step of removing at least the obstructing member includes releasing at least one anchor.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the obstructing member is releasable from the support structure, and the step of removing at least the obstructing member includes releasing the obstructing member from the support structure.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the obstructing member forms a one-way valve.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the support structure is collapsible.  
     
     
         30 . An air passageway obstructing device comprising: 
 frame means for forming a support structure;    flexible membrane means for obstructing air flow within the air passageway, carried by the support structure; and    anchoring means to anchor the air passageway obstructing device, carried by the support structure,    the frame means being expandable to an expanded state within an air passageway to support the membrane means and the anchoring means, the anchoring means being releasable for removal of the device from the air passageway.    
     
     
         31 . The intra-bronchial device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises material having memory of an original shape, and resiliency to return the material to that shape.