Devices and methods for maintaining collateral channels in tissue

Abstract

The devices and methods of placement of such devices disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that oxygen depleted/carbon dioxide rich air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The medical kits disclosed herein are also directed to produce and maintain collateral openings through airway walls.

1 . A implantable conduit comprising: 
 a center section having a plurality of rib members circumferentially located about the center section and extending along at least an axial length of the center section, such that upon expansion of the center section, the rib members prevent the axial length of the center section from changing, the center section further including a first end and a second end;    a plurality of independent extension members extending from each rib member at both of the first and second ends of the center section, where a remainder of each extension member is unconnected to an adjacent extension member such that a tip each of each extension member is independently moveable relative to the tip of an adjacent extension member; and    wherein at least one portion of each extension member has a weakened section comprising a reduced cross-sectional area such that the extension members bends at the respective weakened section when an outward radial force is applied thereto such that each extension member flares independently to form a cuff or grommet shape to keep the conduit within the tissue opening.    
   
   
       2 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section comprises a reduced wall thickness being less than a thickness of the wall of the center section.  
   
   
       3 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the center section is radially expandable away from the central axis to allow the center section to assume an expanded profile from a reduced profile.  
   
   
       5 . The conduit of  claim 4 , wherein the center section is spring biased to assume the expanded profile.  
   
   
       6 . The conduit of  claim 1 , where the extension members extending from the first end of the conduit are longer than the extension members extending from the second end of the conduit.  
   
   
       7 . The conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit has a ratio of a length to a diameter of approximately 1:1.  
   
   
       8 . The conduit of  claim 1 , further comprising a self-cleaning mechanism within the passageway.  
   
   
       9 . The conduit of  claim 8 , wherein the self-cleaning mechanism is a ball bearing shaker valve.  
   
   
       10 . The conduit of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve located within the passageway.  
   
   
       11 . The conduit of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas-permeable bacterial-resistant barrier located within the passageway.  
   
   
       12 . The conduit of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier layer extending over a portion of the conduit, where the barrier layer is impermeable to tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The conduit of  claim 12 , where the barrier layer extends between over the entire conduit.  
   
   
       14 . The conduit of  claim 12 , where the barrier layer comprises an elastomer.  
   
   
       15 . The conduit of  claim 12 , where the barrier layer comprises a tube.  
   
   
       16 . The conduit of  claim 15 , where the tub is placed over the conduit.  
   
   
       17 . The conduit of  claim 15 , where the tub is placed within the conduit.