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 of treating a diseased lung comprising
 altering the flow paths within the lung by advancing a device into a respiratory opening; and   creating at least one channel in the lung to form a surgically created path between the airway and parenchymal tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering substances or drugs through the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the channel extends at least 1 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , where the channel extends at least 5 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating a diseased lung comprising
 creating at least one channel in an airway of the diseased lung to form a surgically created path between the airway and parenchymal tissue such that the channel extends beyond the airway wall into parenchymal tissue; and   advancing a device through the channel to treat the diseased lung.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising delivering substances or drugs through the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , where the channel extends at least 1 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , where the channel extends at least 5 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating a diseased lung comprising
 advancing a blunt member through an airway wall to create at least one channel in an airway of the diseased lung to form a surgically created path between the airway and parenchymal tissue such that the channel extends beyond the airway wall into parenchymal tissue; and   advancing a device through the channel to treat the diseased lung.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , where advancing the blunt member through the airway wall comprises creating an incision in the airway wall and advancing the blunt member through the incision. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where advancing the blunt member through the airway wall further comprises dilating the channel in the airway wall. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising delivering substances or drugs through the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , where the channel extends at least 1 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , where the channel extends at least 5 cm beyond an epithelial layer of the airway. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a diseased lung comprising
 creating an incision in the airway wall to create a channel in an airway of the diseased lung to form a surgically created path between the airway and parenchymal tissue such that the channel extends beyond the airway into parenchymal tissue;   enlarging the incision;   advancing a blunt member through the incision; and   advancing a device through the channel to treat the diseased lung.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  where the incision is created by an act selected from the group consisting of (a) piercing, (b) slitting, (c) punching, and (d) ablating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  where the incision is enlarged by an act selected from the group consisting of (a) dilation, (b) slitting, and (c) implanting a mechanical device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  where the blunt member is designed to dissect parenchymal tissue without damaging blood vessels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  where the device to temporarily maintain the open channel is a sheath. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  where the device to treat the diseased lung is selected from the group consisting of (a) a fluid delivery catheter, (b) a RF ablation catheter, (c) a tissue excision device, (d) a radiation treatment device, (e) bi-polar or single pole electrosurgical cutters, (f) an ultrasonic energy delivery device, (g) a laser delivery device, (h) a microwave delivery device, (i) a cryo-energy delivery device, and (j) a chemical delivery device.