Pulmonary decompression device for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

A lung reduction device is provided for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by utilizing the phenomenon of collateral ventilation to increase the expiratory flow from a diseased lung. The device is adapted to penetrate the outer pleura of the lung to access the most collaterally ventilated area of a lung to remove trapped air. A conduit of the lung reduction device is positioned within the parenchyma of the lung while the housing of the lung reduction device is secured to the patient's body external to the lung. The housing includes means for allowing air from the lung of the patient to vent to an area external of the lung and may include suitable means for allowing one-way airflow such as a check valve, a reed valve, needle valve, or any other suitable device.

1 . A lung-volume-reduction device for treating a lung of a patient through an aperture through a chest wall of the patient, wherein the aperture passes through the chest wall, through a parietal membrane and through a visceral membrane into parenchymal tissue of the lung, and wherein the visceral membrane is sealed to the parietal membrane around the aperture to prevent pneumothorax, wherein the lung-volume-reduction device comprises:
 a housing having a planar surface adapted to be secured to the chest of a patient;   a conduit projecting substantially perpendicular from the planar surface of the housing;   the conduit having a distal end spaced from the planar surface of the housing such that, when the planar surface of the housing is secured to the chest of the patient, the distal end of the conduit is secured within the parenchymal tissue of the lung; and   a flow-control device positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the conduit;   wherein the lung-volume-reduction device is configured to permit gases within the parenchymal tissue lung to vent to atmosphere external to the patient through the conduit via the flow-control device without entering the pleural cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-control device is adapted to prevent air external to the patient from entering the lung through the conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-control device comprises a one-way valve configured to prevent air external to the patient from entering the lung through the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an adhesive flange adapted to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , wherein the planar surface of the housing comprises a biocompatible adhesive to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a balloon flange connected adjacent the distal end of the conduit and adapted to secure the conduit within the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The lung-volume-reduction device of  claim 1 , further comprising an expandable member connected to the conduit and adapted to secure the conduit within the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device for treating a lung of a patient through an aperture through a chest wall of the patient, wherein the aperture passes through a parietal membrane and through a visceral membrane into parenchymal tissue of the lung, and wherein a pleurodesis seals the visceral membrane to the parietal membrane around the aperture, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a housing having a planar surface adapted to be secured to the chest of a patient;   a tube extending substantially perpendicular from the planar surface of the housing such that, when the planar surface of the housing is secured to the chest of the patient, a distal aperture of the tube is secured within the parenchymal tissue of the lung; and   a gas vent positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the tube;   wherein the medical device is configured to permit gasses in the lung to vent to atmosphere external to the patient through the tube without entering a pleural cavity.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the gas vent is adapted to prevent entry of material from external to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the gas vent comprises a one-way valve configured to prevent air external to the patient from entering the lung through the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises an adhesive flange adapted to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the planar surface of the housing comprises a biocompatible adhesive to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 8 , further comprising a balloon flange connected adjacent the distal end of the conduit and adapted to secure the conduit within the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 8 , further comprising an expandable member connected to the conduit and adapted to secure the conduit within the lung of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device for treating a lung of a patient through an aperture through a chest wall of the patient, wherein the aperture passes through a parietal membrane and through a visceral membrane into parenchymal tissue of the lung, and wherein a pleurodesis seals the visceral membrane to the parietal membrane around the aperture, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a housing having a planar surface adapted to be secured to the chest of a patient;   a tube extending substantially perpendicular from the planar surface of the housing;   the tube having a length selected such that, when the planar surface of the housing is secured to the chest of the patient, a distal end of the tube is secured within the parenchymal tissue of the lung; and   a gas outlet positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the tube;   wherein the medical device is configured to permit gasses in the lung to escape through the chest wall of the patient through the tube.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein the gas outlet is adapted to prevent entry of material from external to the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein the gas outlet comprises a one-way valve configured to prevent air external to the patient from entering the lung through the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises an adhesive flange adapted to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein the planar surface of the housing comprises a biocompatible adhesive to secure the housing to the chest of the patient. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 15 , further comprising an expandable member connected to the conduit and adapted to secure the conduit within the lung of the patient.