Methods for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

The methods and devices disclosed altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of individuals having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

1 . A method for assessing collateral ventilation at a site in the lungs of a patient, the method comprising: 
 inserting a device within an airway;    advancing a portion of the device through an airway wall to the site;    moving fluid through the portion of the device to the site; and    measuring a fluid parameter to determine the degree of collateral ventilation at the site.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , where moving fluid comprises forcing fluid into the site.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , where moving fluid comprises pulling fluid out of the site.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the device further comprises a probe configured to collect date within the lung.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , where the probe comprises a channel that transmits signals outside of the lung.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding an occlusion member against the airway wall to form a seal against the airway wall to form an occluded segment in the lung.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , where the occlusion member comprises a balloon.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , where measuring the fluid parameter to determine the degree of collateral ventilation at the site comprises observing for a change in pressure in the occluded segment.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , where measuring the fluid parameter to determine the degree of collateral ventilation at the site comprises measuring a characteristic selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow, and return volume.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , where measuring the fluid parameter to determine the degree of collateral ventilation at the site comprises monitor flow or pressure changes in the site.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , where the fluid comprises air or gas.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , where the fluid comprises oxygen.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , where the fluid parameter comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow, and return volume.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating the opening in the wall with a tissue piercing member.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , where the tissue piercing member is coupled to the device.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , maintaining the device within the opening and further comprising sealing the opening by expanding a balloon in the opening.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , where forcing fluid comprises providing a constant flow of fluid through the device into the site.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , where measuring the fluid parameter comprises recording pressure at the site with the device.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising stopping the constant flow of fluid after observing a steady-state pressure at the site.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising observing the rate and magnitude of a pressure drop in the steady-state pressure.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising observing the shape of the pressure-time curve.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising dilating the opening upon observing an abrupt fall in the steady-state pressure at the site.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting an implant into the dilated opening.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising withdrawing the device from the opening upon observing a slow decline in the steady-state pressure at the site.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , selecting a second location for creation of a second opening in an airway wall.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the patient's lungs at functional residual capacity.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , where maintaining the patient's lungs at functional residual capacity comprises using mechanical ventilation to maintain the patient's lungs at functional residual capacity.